Iran says to enter Geneva talks with good intentions

TEHRAN - Iran is entering talks with six world powers this week with good intentions, the Islamic Republic's chief nuclear negotiator said Wednesday as he left Tehran for the one-day meeting in Geneva.

Saeed Jalili, echoing comments by other Iranian officials in the run-up to Thursday's 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 Oct 1. 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. Link...