European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday said she hoped Iran would show some "flexibility" at upcoming talks with world powers on its nuclear program in Kazakhstan.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Wednesday said she hoped Iran would show some "flexibility" at upcoming talks with world powers on its nuclear program in Kazakhstan.

Iran and the so-called P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- are due to resume discussions in Almaty on February 26, after a months-long break and failed meetings in Istanbul, Baghdad and Moscow.
       
"We remain determined to work towards a solution to the Iran nuclear issue based on the dual-track approach," combining sanctions and dialogue, Ashton, who is leading the negotiations for the P5+1 group, told the Security Council.

"There is no doubt that the pressure of sanctions has been instrumental in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table but sanctions cannot be an end in themselves," she claimed.

"The key is for Iran to comply fully with its international obligations."

Britain said last week that world powers would make an "updated and credible" offer to Iran at the Almaty talks.