Iran calls UN Security Council sanctions illegal, proposes new talks

Iran slams UN Security Council sanctions against it as illegal in a letter to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that has been seen by The Associated Press. The AP has also seen the text of a proposal given to Ban and senior EU envoy Javier Solana in which Tehran suggests broad international talks on topics of wide concern, such as terrorism, energy and economic issues. But the proposal, made available Thursday to the AP, skirts international demands that the Islamic Republic give up nuclear activities suspected of being a cover for a weapons program.