Six major world powers and Iran are to hold fresh talks on Tehran's nuclear programme, the European Union says.
The EU's foreign policy head, Catherine Ashton, says she had replied to a letter from Iran on behalf of the five permanent United Nations Security Council members and Germany.
The move comes amid fresh speculation of a pre-emptive military strike by Israel against Iran's nuclear facilities, the BBC reports.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on a visit to the United States, has said time is running out to put a stop to Iran's nuclear programme.
The US President Barack Obama has also said all options are open, but that there is still time for diplomacy.
