Iran says won't discuss nuclear "rights" in Geneva

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will not discuss any issues related to its nuclear "rights" in the Islamic Republic's meeting with six world powers in Geneva Thursday, its nuclear energy agency chief said Tuesday.

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, made clear this included a newly disclosed uranium enrichment plant which has drawn Western condemnation.

His comments seemed certain to disappoint the United States which has called on Iran to come clean about its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Tehran insists it needs the technology to generate power.

"We are not going to discuss anything related to our nuclear rights, but we can discuss about disarmament, we can discuss about non-proliferation and other general issues," Salehi told a news conference.

"The new site is part of our rights and there is no need to discuss it," he said, adding Tehran would not abandon its nuclear activities "even for a second."

The United States and its Western allies have made clear they will focus on Iran's nuclear program at the Geneva meeting. Iran has offered wide-ranging security talks.

Salehi was earlier quoted as saying that Iran would soon inform the U.N. nuclear watchdog of a timetable for inspection of the new plant, its second uranium enrichment facility.

Last week's news of the facility, under construction south of Tehran, added urgency to this week's rare meeting in Switzerland. Iran's missile tests Sunday and Monday added to tension with Western powers.

(Writing by Fredrik Dahl; editing by Mark Trevelyan)