TEHRAN/BRUSSELS - Iran is set to meet the world’s major powers for talks on its disputed nuclear programme Oct 1, officials said Monday.
Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana “spoke this morning and agreed on a date for talks… of Oct 1,” Solana’s spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said.
The venue for the talks has not been fixed, Gallach said.
Solana, a former nuclear scientist, has been tasked with negotiating with Iran on behalf of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - and Germany.
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu confirmed Monday in Vienna that his country would join other world powers in the meeting.
“This is an important first step in the discussion and one hopes for the best,” Chu told reporters on the sidelines of the IAEA general conference.
The world powers had earlier said that they wanted Iran to respond to an offer of direct negotiations with the US by the beginning of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said earlier Monday that Iran wanted to discuss global nuclear disarmament with international powers.
However, the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme, which the West suspects is geared towards producing nuclear weapons, would not be on the agenda.
“What we want to discuss with the world powers is the message of peaceful nuclear energy for everyone and nuclear weapons for no one,” Ghashghavi said at a press briefing in Tehran.
In Vienna, Chu indicated that despite the talks, the US still keeps the option of sanctions against Iran open.
“However, countries that violate their international obligations must face serious consequences both here and at the UN security council,” he said in his official statement at the IAEA conference.
Ghashghavi explained that acting upon its policy of justice and peace for the sake of progress, Iran also wanted to discuss global economic and security problems with the five permanent member states of the United Nations Security Council and Germany.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that the nuclear issue was finished and Iran would not discuss “its legitimate and ultimate nuclear rights with anyone”.
The six powers want to focus on Iran’s controversial nuclear programmes rather than Tehran’s views on global issues.
Ghashghavi denied reports that the talks might be held in Turkey.
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