Six key world powers have agreed to make a new offer to Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, in a bid to ease the West's long-running stand-off with Tehran.

Iran is prepared to try and reach an agreement with any country over its nuclear program, but will not stop its development of peaceful atomic energy, the Islamic Republic's president said on Wednesday.

China is for the first time hosting talks on Iran's nuclear programs. China wants to show it is a responsible power while balancing its need for oil from Iran.

The chief U.S. negotiator in six-nation talks on the North Korean nuclear crisis says talks with his North Korean counterpart in Singapore were good and may yield progress.

The top U.S. negotiator on North Korea has begun talks in Geneva with his North Korean counterpart on efforts to scrap Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says it is "very important" that North Korea make a full declaration of its nuclear activities, and has ordered Washington's chief nuclear negotiator to remain in China to continue talks.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is urging China to use its influence to persuade North Korea to move forward with permanently dismantling its nuclear facilities. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leaves Washington Saturday on a mission to South Korea, China and Japan expected to be dominated by the issue of North Korea's nuclear program. Rice Friday ruled out a stop in North Korea. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili says he had good discussions Friday with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, but Solana says he was disappointed by the talks.

Six countries mediating in a longstanding nuclear dispute with Iran will gather in Paris on Saturday to discuss new tougher sanctions against the country, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator says he will hold talks with the European Union foreign policy chief on November 30 over the country's atomic work, which the West fears is a cover to build an atomic bomb.

Iranian officials announced on Wednesday that the country's top nuclear negotiator will meet with the European Union's foreign policy chief for a new round of talks next week.