"First we have to find an agenda for negotiation, then engage the negotiation and during that negotiation I propose that on the one hand the six refrain from referring the issue to the Security Council and that Iran renounce during the negotiation the enrichment of uranium," he said.

The six nations running talks with Tehran are the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany.

It was the first time a European leader has clearly stated that the suspension of uranium enrichment is not a "precondition" for opening talks on the nuclear dossier.

Churac indicated that the suspension should come during rather than before negotiations.

"We can find solutions via dialogue," said Chirac who heads later to New York for the UN's General Assembly.