In an official statement released on Wednesday, Iran expressed its readiness to hold "constructive" dialogue with the Group 5+1 on its nuclear program, the state television IRIB reported.
The statement was quoted as saying that the country will present an updated package of proposals aimed at solving Iran's nuclear issue.
The statement was in response to an invitation for the dialogue by five UN Security Council permanent members of France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States plus Germany, or the Group 5+1, the state TV said on its website.
In response to West's packages of incentives to encourage Tehran to G5+1 last year, Iran offered its own package to G5+1, in which Tehran's concern had been directed to the global issues rather than its nuclear program.
According to the Wednesday statement, Iran has emphasized the continuation of its nuclear activities in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and in the framework of nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Local media also quoted Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Said Jalili as saying that "by updating last year's package, the Islamic republic is announcing its readiness for constructive dialogue and interaction."
Some parts of the statement by the G5+1 for a dialogue, issued earlier in April, "are inconsistent to the new changes and negate mutual respect and dialogue in a fair atmosphere," Iran said in its Wednesday statement.
On Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said that "Tehran's response (to the recent statement of the G5+1) is clear... the Islamic Republic is interested in holding talks without any precondition based on justice, mutual respect and mutual interest. "
The United States and other Western countries claim that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.
Iran, however, insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, vowing to continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure and sanctions from Western countries.
(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2009)
