Iran Reveals Second Uranium Enrichment Plant

Diplomats say Iran has revealed the existence of a second uranium enrichment plant.

The diplomats say Iran sent a letter to the United Nations nuclear watchdog earlier this week disclosing the existence of the second plant.

Western nations accuse Iran of enriching uranium in order to produce a nuclear weapon.  The U.N. Security Council has imposed three sets of sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Thursday, the United States said the U.S. is prepared to have a serious dialogue with Iran.  A State Department spokesman said Iran will have the opportunity to make diplomatic suggestions when envoys from the world's major powers meet with Iranian officials in Geneva on October 1.

The spokesman, Ian Kelly, made those remarks in response to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement that Iran is willing to have its nuclear experts meet with scientists from the U.S. and other world powers.  

In an interview with The Washington Post newspaper, Mr. Ahmadinejad also said Iran wants to buy enriched uranium used in medical applications from the U.S.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Thursday that the Group of Eight nations also want to give Iran a chance to negotiate over its nuclear program.

Thursday, China reiterated its stance that sanctions are not appropriate for deterring Iran from a nuclear weapons program.  

Also Thursday during a speech in the eastern U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said he does not not believe that sanctions are the best way to achieve results on the nuclear issue.

China and Russia  will join the U.S., France, Germany, and Britain in talks with Iranian negotiators next month.

President Obama says Iran has been violating too many of its international obligations, and that tougher sanctions may be needed.