Senior officials from Iran and the European Union have begun talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on economic, political and human rights issues.

The officials also discussed the recent killings of a number of Iranian writers and opposition figures, suspected to have been carried out by conservative Iranian elements opposed to President Mohammmed Khatami's reforms.

Diplomats said the head of the EU delegation made it clear that while Europe condemned the killings, it had no reason to believe that the Iranian government was involved.

Both sides also discussed the latest air strikes against Iraq, with Iran expressing its opposition to the use of force.