Clinton: Iran nuclear program top topic

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Iran's nuclear program will be the top U.S. topic when the two countries face each other at the negotiating table, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

The talks are scheduled Oct. 1, The New York Times reported. They also involve Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

"Iran says it has a number of issues it wishes to discuss with us," Clinton said. "But what we are concerned about is discussing with them the questions surrounding their nuclear program and ambitions."

Iran has said it wants to talk about a wide range of issues, including global nuclear disarmament and peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, while insisting Iran is interested in developing nuclear power only for peaceful purposes, has said Iran has the right to do what it wants.

"We have no illusions about the Iranian government," Clinton said. "The point is to meet and explain to the Iranians, face to face, the choices that Iran has, and to see whether Iran is prepared to engage."