Iran tells EU official ready for nuclear talks

AFP: Iran is ready to hold talks with the group of six world powers over its controversial nuclear programme, Saeed Jalili, a top official with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday.

TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran is ready to hold talks with the group of six world powers over its controversial nuclear programme, Saeed Jalili, a top official with Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday.

Iranian news agency ISNA reported that Jalili had a conversation by telephone with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in which he expressed the Islamic republic's willingness to hold discussion over its nuclear drive.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes discussion with the group of six for a constructive cooperation", Jalili told Solana, the ISNA report said.

The Supreme National Security Council is Iran's top national security decision-making body, and in particular is responsible for the nuclear negotiations.

On April 8, the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France, and Germany said Solana has been tasked to invite Iran for talks on its nuclear programme which they suspect is aimed at making atomic weapons.

Tehran denies the charge.