Iranian state media say Iran has agreed to start talks with six world powers on global economic and security problems in early October.
Iranian media say Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili agreed to launch the talks next month in a phone call Monday with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
The United States and five other world powers: Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China accepted an Iranian offer last week to hold wide-ranging negotiations. But they have not yet confirmed a date or a venue.
The Obama administration says it will raise the issue of Iran’s nuclear program during the talks, despite Iran’s stated refusal to discuss the matter. Western nations accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program, a charge Tehran denies.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday Iran has an “undeniable” right to possess peaceful nuclear technology and will not negotiate over such a right.
