Six-nation talks with Iran on nuclear proliferation begin

Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany will meet with their Iran counterpart minister today to test the country's offer of talks to resolve Western concerns about its nuclear programme.

Iran's new government on Monday agreed to new six-nation talks on its nuclear programme. The talks will be the highest level contacts between the US and Iran in six years, as US secretary of state John Kerry comes face-to-face with Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif.

The depth of Iran's commitment to thawing relations with the West will meet its first test today on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting. It is aimed at paving the way for the first round of substantive negotiations on the nuclear issue since April.

The United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany will participate, with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton hosting the meeting.

The Obama administration sees the talks offer a sign that Iranian President Hasan Rouhani will adopt a more moderate stance than his hard-line predecessor, but is sceptical that the country's supreme leader will allow a change in course. Obama and other US officials have said Iran must prove its commitment with actions.

Rouhani is in New York this week, making his debut on the world stage with an address to the General Assembly and a series of other speeches, news conferences and bilateral meetings.

During his visit, Iran has shown new urgency in reviving the stalled negotiations, seeking to ease crippling international sanctions as quickly as possible.

Rouhani said Wednesday that "we have nothing to hide" and Zarif said he hoped his counterparts "have the same political will as we do to start serious negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement within the shortest span of time".

The Western countries led by the US have imposed crippling sanctions on Iran that have slashed its vital oil exports and severely restricted its international bank transfers. This is an indirect blow to India, which imports most of its oil requirements.

However, India is obviously not invited for the talks, and can only wait and watch.

Tehran has repeatedly said that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes and not for making weapons, but the US has always insisted otherwise as a proud old country has consistently refused to open its nuclear facilities for international inspection.

But since his June election, Rouhani has made clear he is seeking relief from the sanctions and has welcomed a new start in nuclear negotiations in hopes this could ease the economic pressure.

He has said he has the full support of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all important matters of state including the nuclear question.