Washington has not agreed with Tehran on direct bilateral talks concerning the controversial Iranian nuclear program, but the United States is ready for such negotiations, the White House said.

The New York Times daily reported on Saturday citing an unnamed senior administration official that Iranian officials agreed for talks with the United States, but only after the American presidential election so that they would know which president will be holding negotiations with them.

“It's not true that the United States and Iran have agreed to one-on-one talks or any meeting after the American elections,” White House’s National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.

The official said the United States continue negotiating with Iran as part of the group of six world powers that comprises also Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany, also know as P5+1 group.

Vietor reiterated that the United States keeps standing firm against any nuclear weapons in Iran and will maintain this stance in the future.

“The President has made clear that he will prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and we will do what we must to achieve that,” he said.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

© RIA Novosti.

Peaceful Nuclear Energy or Nuclear Weapons?

Iran rejects these allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.