EU says received Iranian reply on nuclear offer

Reuters: The European Union has received a written reply from Iran to an offer from major powers on Tehran's nuclear programme, an official in the office of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Tuesday.

BRUSSELS, Aug 5 (Reuters) – The European Union has received a written reply from Iran to an offer from major powers on Tehran's nuclear programme, an official in the office of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Tuesday.

"We have received the letter," the EU official told Reuters.

The official declined to give any details on the content on the letter, saying it would now be studied by the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China and Germany, whom Solana represents in the nuclear talks with Iran.

"The P5+1 need to read it and study it," the official said, referring to the six major powers.

Senior officials from the powers will hold a conference call on Wednesday to discuss whether to impose more punitive measures against Tehran, a U.S. State Department spokesman said earlier on Tuesday.

The six powers have offered to hold off from imposing new U.N. sanctions if Tehran froze expansion of its nuclear work. (Reporting by Ingrid Melander; Editing by David Brunnstrom)