Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had earlier reaffirmed his country's determination to enrich its own uranium.

The US and EU hope to persuade Iran to give up its ambitions to manufacture fuel suitable for use in nuclear bombs.

But their efforts have been hampered by poor relations in recent months.

France's representative at the talks, Stanislas Lefebvre de Laboulaye, said the sides "set out their positions in an open and frank manner."

Talks broke down in August when Iran decided to resume uranium conversion, a precursor of enrichment.

Iran insisted it had the inalienable right to resume conversion, and presented it as part of a peaceful civilian nuclear energy policy.

The EU has also appeared to harden its tone towards Tehran, criticising Iran over its human rights record.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohammed ElBaradei, has said that the world is losing patience with Iran over the nuclear issue.