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Iran, P5+1 foreign ministers start talks in New York

27 September 2013 02:31 (UTC +04:00)

The talks between Iran and the six major world powers -- the US, the UK, France, China, and Russia plus Germany -- took place on Thursday on the sidelines of the 68th annual session of the UN General Assembly.

The meeting also marks the highest-level of direct contact between Tehran and Washington in six years.

The previous round of the talks between Tehran and the six powers was held in the Kazakh city of Almaty in April.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.