TEHRAN (Reuters) -- Iran is entering talks with six world powers this week with good intentions, the Islamic republic's chief nuclear negotiator said as he left Tehran for the one-day meeting in Geneva.
Saeed Jalili, echoing comments by other Iranian officials in the run-up to the October 1 discussions -- the first since U.S. President Barack Obama took office -- described the meeting as an "opportunity and a test" for the world powers.
"We are entering the talks with a good will," he said at Tehran's international Imam Khomeini airport. Jalili is secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
The United States and its Western allies have made clear they will focus on Iran's disputed nuclear program, which they suspect is aimed at making bombs, at the talks.
Iran, which says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity, has offered wide-ranging talks on security and other issues, but ruled out any discussions about its nuclear rights.
The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany will also take part in the Geneva meeting.
Saeed Jalili, echoing comments by other Iranian officials in the run-up to the October 1 discussions -- the first since U.S. President Barack Obama took office -- described the meeting as an "opportunity and a test" for the world powers.
"We are entering the talks with a good will," he said at Tehran's international Imam Khomeini airport. Jalili is secretary of the Supreme National Security Council.
The United States and its Western allies have made clear they will focus on Iran's disputed nuclear program, which they suspect is aimed at making bombs, at the talks.
Iran, which says it needs nuclear technology to generate electricity, has offered wide-ranging talks on security and other issues, but ruled out any discussions about its nuclear rights.
The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany will also take part in the Geneva meeting.