Moscow hosts nuclear talks with Iran

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MOSCOW, June 18 (UPI) -- A European official called on Iran to deal constructively with members of the international community gathered for nuclear talks in Moscow.

Nuclear negotiations among the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- along with Germany began Monday in Moscow.

Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to manufacture a weapon, something the Iranian government denies. Iran said it needs to pursue uranium enrichment for medical research.

Michael Mann, a spokesman for the European Union, told Voice of America, that Iran hasn't exhibited any level of seriousness in talks this year.

"We're not prepared to talk for the sake of talking, we need (the Iranians) to drive things forward," he said.

Members of the so-called P5+1 called on Iran to halt production of uranium enriched to 20 percent. Western powers say it's a benchmark that would make it easier to reach the 90 percent purity needed for a nuclear weapon.

An Iranian official involved in the talks was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying the chances of reaching an agreement during talks in Moscow were "minimal."