US open to bilateral, P5+1 talks with Iran

Washington (PTI) : US President Barack Obama said Washington is open to both P5+1 nuclear talk or those through bilateral channels with Tehran, a day after newly elected Iranian president promised greater openness in his country's nuclear programme.

However, Obama was cautious in his approach with the new Iranian leadership noting that the real power still rests with the supreme leader and Tehran needs to show the international community on abiding by its commitment. "We are open to discussions - both through the P5+1 and through potential bilateral channels. We recognise that you're not going to solve problems all upfront, as a precondition for talks," Obama told the popular 'Charlie Rose' in an interview.

"But there has to be a serious recognition that the sanctions we put in place, for example, the most powerful economic sanctions that have ever been applied against Iran, that those will not be lifted in the absence of significant steps in showing the international community that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon."