Iran tells powers it will not give up its 'absolute' rights

Nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told representatives of world powers at Geneva talks today that Iran will never give up its "absolute" rights on its controversial atomic programme, ISNA news agency reported.

"The Islamic republic of Iran will never give up its absolute rights," Jalili told EU negotiator Javier Solana and representatives of six world powers during the first round of talks, ISNA said.

It said that during the talks Jalili comprehensively explained the framework of Iran's package of proposals which takes into consideration economic, international security and political issues.

Jalili also stressed the need for complete global disarmament and called for strategies to achieve that aim to be put into place, ISNA said.

Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US -- are holding high-profile talks about Tehran's atomic programme which the west suspects is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Iran vociferously denies the charge.

The talks gained further importance after Iran revealed to the UN nuclear watchdog on September 21 that it was building a second uranium enrichment plant, a development that sparked fresh global outrage against Tehran.

World powers want Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, the process which can make fuel for a nuclear power plant but can also be used to make the fissile core of an atom bomb.