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TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that talks with the major powers over Iran's disputed nuclear program will start in early September regardless of the conditions he set earlier last month.
The interview, aired late Monday night by the state-owned English language Press TV, is the latest in a series of announcements by Iran of its willingness to talk about nuclear issues, most likely in an effort to deflect pressure and international sanctions.
The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to use its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop atomic weapons. Iran has denied the charge, saying its program is intended for peaceful purposes such as energy-generation.
In June, the Iranian leader set three conditions for resuming talks, stalled since 2009, saying countries who want to participate should make clear whether they oppose Israel's purported atomic arsenal, whether they support the Nonproliferation Treaty and whether they want to be friends or enemies with Iran.
But in the interview Ahmadinejad backed down from his enforcing own conditions.