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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Iran welcomes nuclear talks plan | Iran welcomes nuclear talks plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Iran has welcomed an offer of talks with six world powers over its nuclear programme, state television says. | Iran has welcomed an offer of talks with six world powers over its nuclear programme, state television says. |
| Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili spoke to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and discussed the proposals, Iran's news agency ISNA said. | Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili spoke to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and discussed the proposals, Iran's news agency ISNA said. |
| "[Iran] welcomes discussion with the group of six for a constructive cooperation", Mr Jalili said. | "[Iran] welcomes discussion with the group of six for a constructive cooperation", Mr Jalili said. |
| Last week the six - US, Russia, China, France, UK and Germany - said that they were inviting Tehran for talks. | Last week the six - US, Russia, China, France, UK and Germany - said that they were inviting Tehran for talks. |
| The group's statement also reaffirmed its members' commitment to a "dual track" strategy, promising economic and political assistance if Iran agreed to international demands to halt uranium enrichment operations, but tighter sanctions if it did not. | |
| Mr Jalili also said Iran would issue an official statement in response to the six powers' offer, Iranian state TV reported. | |
| His response came days after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran was open to talks, as long as they based on a platform of respect and justice for Iranian rights. | |
| Iran denies it is seeking to build a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear programme is designed to generate electricity. | Iran denies it is seeking to build a nuclear weapon and says its nuclear programme is designed to generate electricity. |
| 'New respect' | |
| The talks are based on international concern that Iran's nuclear programme is a cover to build atomic weapons. | |
| Tehran has continued to enrich uranium despite lengthy negotiations in recent years with major powers and despite the imposition of sanctions by the UN Security Council. | |
| Progress has been slow, but new US President Barack Obama recently used a video message to offer "a new beginning" to the Iranian people and leaders. | |
| While not openly accepting Mr Obama's overtures, Iran's president has sounded a more conciliatory tone in recent weeks. | |
| Last week he told German news magazine Der Spiegel that Iran speaks "very respectfully" of Barack Obama | |
| "But we are realists. We want to see real changes," Mr Ahmadinejad said. | |
| Enriched uranium can be used in nuclear power plants, but can also be used to make the weapons. | |
| But Tehran has always insisted it is developing nuclear power for civilian purposes. |