ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AFP) -- Iran wants its right to enrich uranium recognised when the Islamic republic sits down for talks on its disputed nuclear programme with world powers in the Kazakh city Almaty, Iran's chief negotiator said on Thursday.

"We think that they can open up tomorrow's (Friday's) talks with one phrase -- and that is to accept Iran's right, particularly its right to enrich," chief negotiator Saeed Jalili said in an address in Almaty.