EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana says he hopes to hold talks before the end of the month with Iran’s nuclear negotiator.

Solana says he spoke at length with Saeed Jalili on Friday night after Iran sent the European Union a response to an international offer of incentives for halting uranium enrichment.

Solana confirmed to reporters in Paris on Monday that he had received a letter from the Iranian side and said he hoped that Western powers would be able to respond to it soon.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner says he believes the letter offers “a little hope,” but not a big one, although he says he hasn’t read it yet.