President Hassan Rohani is to address the yearly United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month on his first official trip to the United States.

The semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on September 4 that meetings are also planned for Rohani with U.S. media.

Zarif said talks with British Foreign Secretary William Hague were on the agenda as well following a hiatus of nearly two-years in relations between Tehran and London.

Iran is engaged in a stand-off with the West over its controversial nuclear program.

Rohani, who came to office in early August, has said Iran was ready to allay Western concerns and that the nuclear dispute could be solved quickly.

The 68th session of the General Assembly will open on September 17.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
RFE/RL