Officials from six world powers are expected to meet for talks on persuading Iran to halt its sensitive nuclear work. The meeting in Berlin will involve senior diplomats from Germany and the five permanent United Nations Security Council members -- the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China.

Tehran's announcement on April 9 of industrial-scale nuclear enrichment is regarded by critics as a further act of defiance by a government that has resisted international pressure to suspend sensitive nuclear work.

Iranian parliament speaker Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel today said Britain was taking "more appropriate action" to end the dispute over Tehran's detention of the British naval personnel in the Persian Gulf on March 23.

London says the 15 British sailors and marines captured on March 23 were unlawfully seized in Iraqi waters, while Tehran says they trespassed into Iranian territory. Both sides are producing evidence: Britain with satellite maps, Iran with the "confessions" of the sailors themselves.

Iran is responding to criticism from European Union officials about 15 British sailors and marines Iran says it detained in Iranian waters.

Britain is pressing its demand for the immediate release of 15 sailors and marines, seized by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces last Friday, while Tehran is warning of delays and says an apology would help speed up the process.

Fifteen British sailors are in Iranian custody after being seized in the Persian Gulf today, prompting London to demand their release. Britain's Defense Ministry says the British sailors and their two boats were surrounded by Iranian ships and escorted from Iraqi waters into Iran's territorial waters.

Teachers have gathered outside parliament in Tehran on four occasions since their first protest on February 4 to show their dissatisfaction with their salaries and other working conditions.