EU does deal to confirm Iran nuclear talks; Who will lead the Chinese Communist Party from 2012?; Musharraf says US money was spent to fight India; WTO reveals growing protectionism; and more

Top of the Agenda: Iran, World Powers to Meet

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili agreed to the terms of a meeting (Tehran Times) between Iran and the five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany. The world powers will meet Iranian officials on October 1 to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

A spokeswoman for Solana said the meeting will not be a "formal negotiation," (WSJ) and will not have a set agenda or specific goals. Rather, it will be an opportunity to discuss a proposal Iran presented last week along with other security and development issues.

Solana said the talks would most likely take place in Turkey (Reuters). The predominantly Muslim NATO state has said it would like to help bridge the differences between Iran and the United States.

The United States plans to send Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns (VOA), the third-ranking diplomat to the meeting.

Analysis
In TIME, Tony Karon says Obama is under pressure to show that "engagement with Iran produces results," but says those results may not materialize this fall.

CFR's Ray Takeyh warns that no Iranian interlocutor would be "sincere and serious about solving the issues" on the table in talks due to the tense domestic political situation.

Background
Iran's nuclear program proposal can be read here.

The recently updated International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran's nuclear safeguards is available here.

PACIFIC RIM: CCP Leadership

The New York Times reports the governing Chinese Communist Party's next leader, to take power in 2012, may emerge today at an annual policy meeting.

Tibet: Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama, met with the Dalai Lama (Phayul) in Dharamsala, in northern India. In the meeting, the Dalai Lama said he is committed to engaging China in dialogue (VOA), and does not seek independence for Tibet, according to a spokesman for the National Security Council.

ELSEWHERE:

President Obama extends Cuba embargo.
Musharraf: US military aid diverted to defense build up.
WTO report says protectionism on the rise.

This is an excerpt of the CFR.org Daily News Brief. The full version is available on CFR.org