Solana says atom talks with Iran envoy constructive

By Parisa Hafezi and Henrique Almeida

LISBON (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said his talks on Saturday with Iran's nuclear chief were constructive and he hoped for another round in three weeks.

"It has been a constructive meeting ... I have to tell you that probably in three weeks we will try to see if we can meet again," Solana told reporters after four hours of discussions with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani in Lisbon.

The United States, Britain, Russia, France, Germany and China are discussing a third set of U.N. sanctions against Iran over concerns it is covertly trying to build nuclear weapons.

Iran, OPEC's second-largest oil exporter, says it needs nuclear power to generate electricity to be able to export more of its valuable oil and gas.

Increasing the pressure on Tehran, a British draft of a new U.N. sanctions resolution proposed that Iran's airlines and ships could be denied landing and transit rights and two or more of its banks could have their assets frozen.

Larijani said Iran wanted to settle its nuclear dispute with the West through diplomacy, adding that his meeting with Solana was good.

Asked whether a new U.N. sanctions resolution could end his talks with Solana, Larijani said: "If some adventure-seeking countries want to interrupt the process of diplomacy, this may have some effects."

"I think for the big powers the prevalence of tranquility would be more important."