Geneva  - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Thursday said Iran had reiterated its willingess to open its recently revealed nuclear site to international inspectors, giving an upbeat assessment of the world powers' talks with Iran in Geneva.

There was also partial progress in the efforts by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - as well as Germany in discussing with Iran the possibility of enriching its uranium outside of the country.

On October 18, a meeting is scheduled in Vienna, the seat of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss the six country's proposal for making fuel for a research reactor in Tehran.

However, Solana said there was "not a complete response" from Iran about the six powers' offer of refraining from new sanctions, in return for Iran not expanding its enrichment programme, which many countries fear could be used for making a nuclear weapon.

The next round of talks would take place before the end of October, said Solana, who formally represented the Security Council veto powers and Germany at the talks.

The Spanish EU diplomat said it was important that the United States had participated fully in such talks for the first time.  dpa