**A senior official in Tehran says Iran is ready for talks with the West on its nuclear programme based on mutual respect and without preconditions.**Iran has made similar statements, but recent political turmoil over disputed elections had dimmed hopes of a nuclear compromise with the West, analysts say.
The US has given Iran until September to accept a package of benefits if it gives up sensitive nuclear enrichment.
Otherwise it faces tougher sanctions. Iran insists its programme is peaceful.
Correspondents say the announcement may come as a positive surprise for Washington, although it made no mention of the September deadline.
“Talks without preconditions is Iran’s main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue”
Iranian IAEA envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh
Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
The US and some allies accuse Iran of using enrichment as a gateway to building nuclear weapons.
Iran says its programme is aimed at peaceful power generation which is within its rights and has ruled out suspending or freezing its activities.
“Talks without preconditions is Iran’s main stance in negotiations on the nuclear issue,” Iran’s envoy to the UN nuclear watchdog, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, was quoted as saying by state TV.
“Soltanieh announced Iran’s readiness to take part in any negotiations with the West based on mutual respect,” the report said.
The June presidential election and its turbulent aftermath plunged the Iran into the biggest internal crisis in its 30 year history.
Amid deep divisions within the ruling elite and the population, relations with the West were put under further strain and seemed to bode ill for Washington’s stated aim of re-engagement with Iraq.
The statement by Mr Sotanieh comes a day before poll-winner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an outspoken antagonist of Western powers, is due to submit his cabinet for approval in parliament.
September deadline
The US is offering talks on trade benefits with the if Iran freezes its enrichment programme.
Tehran has not given a direct response and continued its expansion of enrichment activity - which could be harnessed for weapons production in the future.
Iran last held talks with the major powers, the US, China, Russia, France, Germany and the UK, in Geneva in July 2008.
The Obama administration initially set a one-year deadline for reviewing an engagement policy with Iran, but brought it forward to coincide with the G-20 summit in late September.
Iran is currently under limited UN sanctions on banking, trade and other activities, as well as travel bans on some individuals involved in the nuclear programme.
The US has not specified what tougher sanctions it might propose.