Tehran a rational actor, cleric says

TEHRAN, April 27 (UPI) -- Tehran is a rational actor in the international community and welcomes open dialogue, a cleric leading Friday prayers in Tehran said.

Multilateral talks on the Iranian nuclear program April 14 in Istanbul, Turkey, were viewed as positive. Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to manufacture a nuclear weapon, an allegation the government denies.

Friday prayers leader Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi described the Islamic republic as a rational actor that's looking for reciprocity from members of the international community.

"The Istanbul meeting proved that the Iranian nation is powerful and will not retreat an iota from its rights," the cleric was quoted by Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV as saying.

The International Atomic Energy Agency had said there may be certain military dimensions to parts of Iran's nuclear program.

A second round of negotiations is schedule May 23 in Baghdad. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was in Tehran this week, his first such visit since re-election in 2010.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had said he was "optimistic" about the prospects for next month's talks.