Iran ready to restart talks with EU-3

"I announce that Iran is ready to respond positively in resuming negotiations on Iran's nuclear enrichment program without any preconditions," he told a press conference at the end of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) talks here.

"I would like to announce our readiness to restart immediately negotiations with the EU Three."

Britain, France and Germany are currently putting together a package of trade and other incentives they hope will coax Iran into agreeing to halt uranium enrichment -- work which can be extended to making nuclear weapons.

Mottaki however ruled out the prospect of negotiations with the United States, which suspects Iran is working secretly toward building its own nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian drive for atomic power.

"Because of the bad temperament of the Americans, for the time being we have suspended these direct talks which means that after changing of their behaviour we may consider again," he said.

Mottaki said earlier Tuesday that the United States would not be able to launch military strikes on Iran over its nuclear programme -- which it insists is for peaceful purposes -- because it is overstretched on too many fronts.

Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said yesterday that an EU offer aimed at persuading Iran to curb its atomic plans will "prove" Tehran's true intentions on enriching uranium.

The so-called EU-3 -- Britain, France and Germany, as well as Solana -- are preparing to make an offer to the Islamic republic offering trade and other incentives in return for guarantees over its nuclear programme.