Chirac "expressed France's wish that the dialogue begun between the three European countries (Germany, France and Britain) and Iran continues in a constructive way," the president's spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said.

Chirac also stressed the importance "of continuing the implementation of commitments taken at the IAEA", the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He mentioned among others those on transparency and inspections, she said.

"He underlined that Iran's response will determine the assessment to be done by the IAEA's board of governors in mid-June," Colonna added.

Iran's foreign minister, Kamal Kharazi, said that "Iran was doing everything it could to cooperate with the IAEA and that it was due to transmit its report to the IAEA in mid-May," she said.

Iran last year was severely reprimanded by the IAEA for failing to reveal a full account of its nuclear activities including its research into second generation P2 centrifuges that are capable of enriching uranium to weapons grade.

But last December, Iran bowed to international pressure by signing up to an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), allowing a tougher IAEA probe.

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