Iran ready for nuke talks with world powers: TV

Iran has prepared an updated nuclear proposal and is ready to hold negotiations with world powers, Iranian television quoted the Islamic Republic's chief nuclear negotiator as saying on Tuesday, as the United States' September deadline loomed.

"The Islamic republic's package of proposals is updated and ready and will be presented (to world powers)," Saeed Jalili, who also heads the country's Supreme National Security Council, told reporters.

"We hope a new round of talks will be held for reaching a world full of progress and justice ... inshallah (God willing)."

Press TV, Iran's English-language state television, said in a scrolling headline, without giving further detail, "Iran ready to offer new nuclear package."

We hope a new round of talks will be held for reaching a world full of progress and justice

Saeed Jalili

September deadline

U.S. President Barack Obama has given Iran until later this month to take up a six powers' offer of talks on trade benefits if it shelves nuclear enrichment or face harsher sanctions.

Iran has repeatedly rejected demands to halt work which it says is for peaceful power generation but which the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.

Germany said on Monday it will host high-level talks this week with the U.S., China, France, Britain and Russia on Iran's disputed nuclear program.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tehran should realize how "very serious" the September deadline set by Obama is to negotiate on its nuclear activities.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in April, before his disputed re-election in June, that Iran had prepared its own proposals to end the long-running stalemate over Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Constructive talks

Iran has previously said it is ready for "constructive" talks but has dismissed demands to halt or freeze uranium enrichment, which can have both civilian and military purposes.

It was unclear whether Iran's counter-offer in the nuclear dispute would be essentially different from previous ill-fated exchanges.

The six powers originally offered Iran economic and political incentives in 2006 in exchange for the suspension of enrichment. Iran's response hinted at some flexibility but ruled out suspension as a precondition for talks.

In June last year the six improved the offer but retained the precondition. In reply, Iran said it wanted to negotiate a broader peace and security deal and rejected any "condescending" formula to shelve its nuclear program.