Iran says it will present new initiatives at upcoming nuclear talks with world powers in Turkey, but warned that efforts by Western nations to exert pressure on Tehran would "backfire."
Iranian state media say chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili announced the initiatives on Wednesday but did not specify his proposals. Jalili also said efforts to use what he called the "language of force" against Iran would be "useless."
Representatives from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, known as the P5+1, will meet with Iranian officials in Istanbul on Saturday, the first talks on curbing Iran's controversial nuclear program since January 2011.
Jalili said Iran believes the talks should be based on "mutual cooperation."
Iran confirmed Monday it would meet with the P5+1 but urged them to drop any pre-conditions for the talks.
Western powers suspect Iran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies. The scope of Iran's uranium enrichment program is a particular worry. Iran says it nuclear activities are peaceful and solely for power generation and medical research.
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