Iran bid to gain recognition of N-rights

Tehran:  Iran will press to have its "nuclear rights" recognised in talks with world powers who accuse Tehran of seeking atomic weapons, a foreign ministry spokesman told reporters on Tuesday.

"Iran has announced its view points and readiness for talks with the P5+1. We are seeking to have Iran's nuclear rights recognised in these talks," Ramin Mehmanparast said at his weekly press briefing. He said Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was seeking to set "a date and venue" to meet EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who represents permanent UN Security Council members and Germany — known as the P5+1.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week said an Iranian official may meet with Ashton in October in a new bid to open negotiations on Iran's contested nuclear drive.

Diplomatic overture

Ahmadinejad's remark came after the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia announced a new diplomatic overture to Tehran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

In June, the UN Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions against the Islamic republic.