Michel was also slated to discuss with Kamal Kharazi Iran's relations with the European Union, which are overshadowed by the nuclear issue, and the situation in the Middle East.

Sarah and Yasmin Pourashemi, aged six and 15, want to be returned to their Iranian-Belgian mother, who has obtained a Belgian court order giving her custody over them.

The two sought refuge in the Belgian embassy here in December after escaping from their Iranian father who had snatched them from their mother.

Iranian law does not recognise dual nationality and says that as Iranians the girls should be in the custody of their father.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said at the time that a committee has been set up to follow the case and talks were taking place to find an appropriate solution.

Michel said shortly after the girls sought asylum, "I think that on a legal basis that is going to be extremely difficult. I think that theoretically it is unsolvable."

"We have to try to find a humane solution by bringing the parents to a settlement," he added.

On the nuclear aspect, Iran was disappointed with the EU for its perceived failure to tone down a harsh resolution passed last weekend by the UN nculear watchdog accusing Tehran of hiding sensitive parts of a programme the United States claims is devoted to secretly developing nuclear arms.

But the Iranians were relieved that the International Atomic Energy Agency decided not to refer the issue to the United Nations Security Council, and after initially calling off a scheduled visit by IAEA inspectors has now agreed to accept them from March 27.

WAR.WIRE