(JTA) — Iran has signaled its willingness to discuss its nuclear program with six world powers, and admitted that spies had infiltrated its nuclear installations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reportedly announced Saturday that his government would hold talks with the P5+1 group — the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — as well as Germany, late this month or in early November.
"The exact date, time and what level the talks should be held are being negotiated by both the sides," Mottaki said at a news conference with visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriquez. "Once the details are finalized, they will be announced."
The last time the sides met was more than a year ago, on Oct. 1, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Also Saturday, Iranian Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also heads Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, admitted that employees of some of the country’s nuclear facilities had spied for the West in exchange for money, according to a report by the Iranian Fars news agency.
Salehi said that the Islamic Republic had increased workers’ privileges and put increased security into place to stop the espionage.
