Iran has agreed to negotiate with six world powers about nuclear issues, but according to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Tehran will not negotiate over its right to possessing "peaceful nuclear technology". Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi also said that Tehran will not negotiate about its "undeniable nuclear rights"; however, Iran will attempt to allay Western fears that it is seeking to develop an atomic bomb.

Iran agreed today to begin talks on 1 October with the United Kingdom, the United States, China, France, Russia and Germany at an as yet undecided venue. It will hold talks about "global issues", including nuclear disarmament.

In Vienna, the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency has formally endorsed its new director general, Yukiya Amano of Japan. He will replace Mohammed ElBaradei, who will step down on 1 December after having served as head of the agency for 12 years.

Upcoming director general IAEA, Yukiya Amano
Photo by D. Calma/IAEA amano020709_300x200.jpg