Asked on a visit to New Zealand about efforts by Germany, France and Britain to convince Tehran to call off its nuclear activities in return for trade privileges, Fischer said the country was at a crossroads.

"This is a situation where the nation could be on the winning side in a new Middle East if substantial reforms are moving forward, if the country's opening for trade," he said.

"We try to convince by diplomatic means the Iranians that they should go for their long-term interests and not miscalculate."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday in Paris that the EU powers had given the Iranians "an opportunity to live up to their obligations" and Washington hoped they would seize it.

When asked about the remarks, Fischer said: "If this is backed by Condoleezza Rice, I would be definitely happy, 100 percent."

After his talks with Rice Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said the United States needed to do more to support European diplomatic efforts to rein in Iran's nuclear program.

Washington has not taken part in the negotiations and has said it would not rule out military action to stop Tehran from producing nuclear weapons, a stance that some European diplomats believe has complicated their efforts.

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