This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8207237.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iran welcomes open nuclear talks Iran denies nuclear talks offer
(about 15 hours later)
A senior official in Tehran says Iran is ready for talks with the West on its nuclear programme based on mutual respect and without preconditions. An Iranian official has denied he said Tehran was ready for talks with the West on its nuclear programme based on mutual respect and without conditions.
Iran has made similar statements, but recent political turmoil over disputed elections had dimmed hopes of a nuclear compromise with the West, analysts say. State television had earlier reported that Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy to the UN's nuclear watchdog, had announced its willingness to negotiate.
The US has given Iran until September to accept a package of benefits if it gives up sensitive nuclear enrichment. "There have been no comments or interviews with TV networks on nuclear talks or conditions," he later said.
Otherwise it faces tougher sanctions. Iran insists its programme is peaceful. Iran has been given until September to end its uranium enrichment programme.
Correspondents say the announcement may come as a positive surprise for Washington, although it made no mention of the September deadline. Otherwise it faces tougher sanctions. The West suspects Iran is secretly trying to build nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its programme is solely peaceful.
Talks without preconditions is Iran's main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue Iranian IAEA envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue 'No change'
The US and some allies accuse Iran of using enrichment as a gateway to building nuclear weapons. In a report broadcast earlier on Tuesday, Iranian state television said Mr Soltanieh had "announced Iran's readiness to take part in any negotiations with the West based on mutual respect".
Iran says its programme is aimed at peaceful power generation which is within its rights and has ruled out suspending or freezing its activities. Iran's main policies are not changed and that is to pursue its peaceful nuclear activities within the framework of the IAEA Ali Asghar SoltaniehIranian IAEA envoy class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
"Talks without preconditions is Iran's main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue," Iran's envoy to the UN nuclear watchdog, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was quoted as saying by state TV. "Talks without preconditions is Iran's main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue," Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was quoted as saying.
"Soltanieh announced Iran's readiness to take part in any negotiations with the West based on mutual respect," the report said. But the network later reported that Mr Soltanieh was insisting he had not given any interviews or made any comments on the issue.
The June presidential election and its turbulent aftermath plunged the Iran into the biggest internal crisis in its 30 year history. "Iran's main policies are not changed and that is to pursue its peaceful nuclear activities within the framework of the IAEA," he said.
Amid deep divisions within the ruling elite and the population, relations with the West were put under further strain and seemed to bode ill for Washington's stated aim of re-engagement with Iraq. Mr Soltanieh instead said he had referred to a letter he sent to the IAEA calling for its meeting in September to approve an Iranian initiative to prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities across the globe.
The statement by Mr Sotanieh comes a day before poll-winner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an outspoken antagonist of Western powers, is due to submit his cabinet for approval in parliament. "The only issue that was raised was to ban threats and attacks on the world's nuclear installations, because it is an international issue," he added.
The United States and its ally, Israel, have not ruled out military action to stop Iran's nuclear programme.
Iran's presidential election in June and its turbulent aftermath plunged the country into internal crisis.
Amid deep divisions within the ruling elite and the population, relations with the West were put under further strain and seemed to bode ill for Washington's stated aim of re-engagement with Iran.
Mr Sotanieh's comments came a day before poll-winner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an outspoken antagonist of Western powers, was due to submit his cabinet for approval in parliament.
September deadlineSeptember deadline
The US is offering talks on trade benefits with the if Iran freezes its enrichment programme. US President Barack Obama said in January that his country was open to dialogue with Iran if its leaders "unclenched their fist". Washington offered talks on trade benefits if Iran stopped enriching uranium.
Tehran has not given a direct response and continued its expansion of enrichment activity - which could be harnessed for weapons production in the future. Tehran has not given a direct response and has continued its expansion of enrichment, which could be harnessed for weapons production in the future.
Iran last held talks with the major powers, the US, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK, in Geneva in July 2008.Iran last held talks with the major powers, the US, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK, in Geneva in July 2008.
The Obama administration initially set a one-year deadline for reviewing an engagement policy with Iran, but brought it forward to coincide with the G-20 summit in late September. The Obama administration initially set a one-year deadline for reviewing an engagement policy with Iran, but brought it forward to coincide with the G20 summit in late September.
Iran is currently under limited UN sanctions on banking, trade and other activities, as well as travel bans on some individuals involved in the nuclear programme.Iran is currently under limited UN sanctions on banking, trade and other activities, as well as travel bans on some individuals involved in the nuclear programme.
The US has not specified what tougher sanctions it might propose.The US has not specified what tougher sanctions it might propose.