LONDON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The British government wants to work with its Iranian counterparts to find a constructive resolution to nuclear issues, Foreign Secretary William Hague said.
Catherine Ashton, the top foreign policy chief at the European Union, announced this week that Kazakhstan agreed to host talks between the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Germany and Iran.
Hague said the need to find a resolution to ongoing nuclear concerns is becoming urgent.
"We want to work with Iran, in the spirit of mutual respect, on the concrete steps needed to address the international community's serious concerns about its nuclear program," he said in a statement. "The onus is on Iran to respond seriously and turn its declared willingness to negotiate into concrete action."
Iran suggested it was willing to sit down at the negotiating table to discuss a nuclear program it says is for peaceful purposes.
Washington said it was ready for talks provided Iran was serious about its nuclear obligations. Inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency said there may be military dimensions to certain aspects of Iran's nuclear research.
Last month, Iran said it would install new centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear facility.
