Tehran, March 16 (DPA) Iran called on the West Tuesday to pursue talks in the row over the Islamic state's nuclear programmes.

'The logical option would be holding negotiations, and if there is any criticism, raising this within the framework of talks,' parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said at a press conference in Tehran.

The speaker said making threats, issuing ultimatums and raising issues like sanctions would not lead to any constructive results.

Larijani was referring to remarks Sunday from French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, who said EU member states were ready to impose unilateral sanctions on Iran if the UN failed to agree on the issue.

The speaker, who was Iran's chief nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2007, noted that China and other countries have yet to join the Western calls for new sanctions against Iran.

Iran has said it is ready to negotiate with the world powers over its nuclear programmes but not to suspend its uranium enrichment, as demanded by the West and the UN Security Council.

Iran's atomic chief, Ali-Akbar Salehi, proclaimed last month that in the new Persian year, which begins March 21, the country planned to build 10 new enrichment sites, followed by 10 more in the future.