EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana is to hold talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, in Portugal this weekend.
The two men have been holding a series of talks aimed at resolving the crisis over Iran's nuclear programme, which the US believes to be a cover for an atomic weapons drive.
The oil-rich Islamic republic insists it only wants to make nuclear fuel to meet its growing energy demands.
Iran has been slapped with two sets of UN Security Council sanctions and it is likely to face a third for its refusal to suspend sensitive enrichment work.
Mr Solana and Mr Larijani last met on 31 May in Madrid, without any breakthrough.
The EU dipomat is trying in 'talks about talks' to persuade Iran to begin formal negotiations on its nuclear programme, which would see Tehran suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for political and economic incentives.
