Iran wants UN talks over nukes

IRAN yesterday rejected what it termed conditional negotiations with Europe over Tehran’s nuclear program and said it wanted instead to have talks with the UN’s international nuclear watchdog agency.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Asefi said any future nuclear negotiations would not include the United States, which contends Iran wants to build atomic weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is solely to produce electricity.

“Since Europe has demanded conditional negotiations, Iran will not accept that and negotiations won’t be held,” Mr Asefi said. “We are interested in negotiations and working with the International Atomic Energy Agency, as our partner.”