The talks are due to be held in Geneva on 1 October with Tehran and the five permanent UN Security Council members - US, UK, Russia, China and France - plus Germany.

BBC: Iran 'concealed nuclear facility'

Forty-five of the fifty states in the US are members of the CCSS initiative and a majority of states have adopted the standards for mathematics and English language arts that were released in 2010.

FORBES: How Can Mainstream Education Meet The Needs of Post-Modern Society?

Speaking on behalf of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, UK, France, Russia and China - British Foreign Secretary William Hague said all five were committed to supporting Mr Annan's efforts.

BBC: UN envoy calls for transitional government in Syria

Both Russia and France - as two of the five permanent members of the Security Council - have the power to veto the US draft plan, as does permanent member China.

BBC: US presses for tough Iraq text

Ten UN Security Council (UNSC) members backed the resolution, including France, Lebanon, the US and UK, while five, including Germany, abstained - nine votes were needed for it to pass.

BBC: Libya no-fly zone 'will protect civilians'