Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey on Monday held informal discussions with Iran's national security chief Ali Larijani over his country's atomic program.

But it was not revealed whether Calmy-Rey, also president of the Swiss Confederation, submitted a proposal to bring back the Iranians to the negotiating table over their use of nuclear technology.

The talks, held in the Swiss capital of Bern, focused primarily on the Iranian nuclear issue, on which Calmy-Rey reiterated Switzerland's position, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In the discussion, Calmy-Rey reminded Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, that Switzerland recognizes the right of every state to use nuclear technology for peaceful uses, but also rejects any form of proliferation of this technology.

Calmy-Rey also called on the Iranians to be as transparent as possible about the aims of their nuclear program and to resume international negotiations.

"In some areas there was progress. But some other areas remain open for discussion," Larijani was quoted by Swiss media as saying on Monday. He did not give any details of his talks with Calmy-Rey.

Larijani was making a stopover in Switzerland after attending a security meeting in Munich, Germany.

Media reports said that Switzerland, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran with the absence of an American embassy, had drawn up an offer to ease the standoff between Iran and the West over the country's nuclear program.

Up to now there has been no indication from the Swiss government about such a proposal.

But earlier in the day, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said that if Switzerland's proposed plan guarantees Iran's right to nuclear technology, it would be examined.

He added that details of the Swiss plan had yet to be revealed and would have to be examined when available.

Source: Xinhua