Following their meeting at the UN General Assembly on Iran's nuclear programme the E3+3 countries (UK, US, China, France, Germany and Russia) issued a statement urging Iran to continue to cooperate with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran's nuclear programme remains a matter of serious concern to the international community as set out in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1835.

We acknowledge the recent measures taken by Iran regarding its cooperation with the IAEA and encourage Iran to cooperate further with the IAEA to resolve the remaining issues which need to be clarified to exclude the possibility of military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme.

We urge Iran to implement all measures required by the IAEA and the UN Security Council to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme at the earliest possible date.

We have consistently stated that we want to negotiate a comprehensive long-term agreement to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. But this can only be achieved if both sides are willing to approach these matters in a spirit of mutual respect and are committed to looking for solutions going forward.

This has been the objective of our dual-track policy since June 2006 to which we remain firmly committed. We recall the meeting between Dr Jalili, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Dr Solana, the European Union's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, accompanied by Representatives from the E3+3 in Geneva in July 2008 at which proposals from the E3+3 and Iran were discussed.

The other members of the Group warmly welcomed the new direction of US policy towards Iran and their decision to participate fully in the E3+3 process and join in any future meetings with representatives of Iran. On 8 April 2009, we called on Iran once again to meet us to discuss the proposal we made in June 2008. We note on 9 September, Iran made a proposal for a discussion covering a wide range of issues. We stress the importance and urgency of taking practical steps to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. We reaffirm our proposals of June 2008 which will offer substantial opportunities for political, security and economic benefits to Iran and to the region.

We reiterate that we recognise Iran's rights under the international treaties to which it is a signatory, but with those rights come responsibility to the international community.

We are united in our willingness to work with Iran on these matters. The meeting on 1 October will provide an opportunity to seek a comprehensive, long-term and appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiation. We expect a serious response from Iran and will decide in the context of our dual-track approach, as a result of the meeting, on our next steps.