The negotiations "around December 15" will focus on establishing an agreement for economic, trade, security and nuclear cooperation, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Cecile Pozzo di Borgo.

"This accord will in the long term give us objective guarantees as to the exclusively civilian use of the Iranian nuclear programme," she said.

She also welcomed the adoption by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, of a resolution confirming Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment.

The suspension was agreed November 15 following intense pressure from the EU troika and promises of economic rewards from Europe in the form of trade if Iran abandoned its nuclear activities.

It also allowed Tehran to escape UN Security Council sanctions the United States had been seeking out of fear Iran was working towards building a nuclear arsenal.

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