Iran's foreign minister says his country will not enter nuclear talks with its arch-enemy Israel.
A report today by official IRNA news agency quotes Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying "We will not attend a meeting in which the occupying regime participates."
Iran refers to Israel as an occupying regime because it controls territories claimed by Palestinians.
The report said Zarif's remarks were in response to possible Israeli participation in talks between Iran and world powers over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
Last weekend Iran agreed to freeze parts of its nuclear programme in return for the easing of Western sanctions.
Israel and the West suspect Iran's nuclear programme has military dimension, a charge Iran denies.
Iran does not recognise Israel and supports militant anti- Israeli groups like Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah.
