Iran offers olive branch to West
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today Iran had prepared a package to resolve its nuclear dispute with the world powers.
"We have prepared a package that can be the basis to resolve Iran's nuclear problem. It will be offered to the West soon," Reuters quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a televised speech in the southern province of Kerman.
The US, Russia, China, France, Germany and the UK said last week they would ask the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Iran to a meeting to find "a diplomatic solution to this critical issue".
It marked a major shift in US policy under President Barack Obama, whose predecessor George W. Bush shunned direct talks with Tehran as long as it pressed ahead with nuclear activity, which many in the West feared had a military rather than civilian purpose.
Yesterday Iran welcomed a "constructive" dialogue with the six world powers, in Tehran's clearest signal yet it would accept an invitation for talks on its disputed nuclear work.
Ahmadinejad did not give details about the new package, but said the world could not be ruled by "using force".
"This new package will ensure peace and justice for the world. It respects rights of all nations," he said.
Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, says its nuclear programme is aimed at generating electricity.
It has repeatedly ruled out halting its enrichment programme.