US, EU welcome Iran proposal to resume nuclear talks

          The United States and European Union have expressed cautious optimism that Iran is serious about returning to talks with world powers over its nuclear program. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Euorpean Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said they were continuing to study Iran's response to a proposal to restart the stalled negotiations. However, they said they welcomed Iran's professed willingness to hold talks as soon as possible without preconditions. Speaking to reporters after meeting with Ashton at the State Department, Clinton said the Iranian reply was "one was have been waiting for." Iran's chief nuclear negotiator sent Ashton a letter earlier in the week in which he proposed new discussions. Meanwhile, a group of US lawmakers has warned President Barack Obama that they would strongly oppose any proposal in talks with Iran that would allow it to continue uranium enrichment activities. A letter signed by a dozen senators from both parties expressed concern that Iran would try to use a resumption of talks with world powers on its nuclear program to buy time and dilute international pressure on it.