Iran's foreign minister said yesterday that his country would begin talks with the United Nations about improving access to its nuclear activities

Iran's foreign minister said yesterday that his country would begin talks with the United Nations about improving access to its nuclear activities. Kamal Kharrazi, in Tokyo for a two-day visit, said he told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi about his plans to negotiate with the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency about inspections. Until this week, Iran had been resisting months of international pressure to sign the protocol, which would allow IAEA inspectors unfettered access to its nuclear program. The United States alleges Iran has been secretly developing nuclear weapons. It has demanded the country allow more intrusive inspections of its facilities. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Concerns over the Iranian nuclear program increased this week after an IAEA report said U.N. inspectors found traces of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. Ali-Akbar Salehi, Tehran's ambassador to the Vienna-based IAEA, said Iran offered Monday to enter negotiations with the nuclear agency over the protocol. He said talks would likely begin after next month. Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman Jiro Okuyama said Kharrazi told Koizumi that Iran has no intention to develop nuclear arms but has a right to develop nuclear power. Koizumi reminded Kharrazi of the global concern about Iran's nuclear programs and urged the foreign minister to fully cooperate with IAEA and the international community, Okuyama said.