American and European officials sayIran may be serious about returning to talksabout its nuclear program.Catherine Ashton,the European Union's foreign policy chief,met with Secretary of State Hillary Clintonin Washington Friday.Later, Ms. Ashton talked to reportersabout Iran's answer this week to a letterthat she sent in October.Her letter asked Iran to return to the nuclear talks.CATHERINE ASHTON: "There is a potential possibilitythat Iran may be ready to start talks.We will continue to discuss and make surethat what we are looking at is substantive.I am cautious and I am optimisticat the same time for this."The United States and its allies believe Iran's goalis to develop nuclear weapons.Iran says its nuclear programis for peaceful, civilian purposes.In the letter, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili,said his government is ready to restart talksat the earliest chance.But in return, he said, the international communitymust respect Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy.Secretary Clinton said the United Statesand other major powers are still considering Iran's letter.But she said it shows that Iran recognizes some of their concerns.HILLARY CLINTON: "Any conversation with Iranhas to begin with a discussion of its nuclear program.And Iran's response to Cathy's letterdoes appear to acknowledge and accept that."The United States and the EUhave been increasing sanctions against Iran.On Friday the Society for Worldwide InterbankFinancial Telecommunication saidit is prepared to discontinue servicesto Iranian banks targeted by EU sanctions.SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative used by banksand other organizations to exchange financial information.It said it is ready to act as soon asit gets a clear understandingof EU legislation currently being written.The United States has been urging the EUto block Iranian banks from access to the cooperative.Also on Friday, the presidents of Iran,Pakistan and Afghanistan met in Islamabad.Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held talkswith Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai.The three presidents promised to strengthen cooperationagainst extremism, terrorism and militancy.Speaking through an aide, Mr. Ahmadinejadblamed "some countries" for the problems facing the area,but did not name any countries.MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: "Today, clearly all these powersare interfering in our internal affairs,in the affairs of our region with a military presence.We believe that the problems of the regionmust be solved regionally.We should deny others the opportunityto interfere in our affairs."The presidents also discussed efforts to end hostilitiesbetween the Afghan government and the Taliban.The government has long said that Taliban chief Mullah Omarand other leaders are hiding in Pakistan.It says they are supervising Afghan militantswith the help of Pakistan'smain intelligence agency, the ISI.Pakistan denies the accusation.And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.