European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says she is hoping for "concrete progress" in a new round of talks with Iran about its controversial nuclear program.
Iranian and EU officials announced Tuesday they have agreed to meet February 26, in Kazakhstan.
Iran and the so-called P5+1 contact group - the United States, France, Russia, China, Britain and Germany - last held negotiations in June, but the talks broke apart with neither side yielding on its demands.
Some Western nations, including the U.S., believe Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
The United Nations Security Council has demanded in multiple resolutions that Iran suspend all enrichment-related activities and allow U.N. inspectors to access its nuclear facilities.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.