Iran to respond soon to nuclear talks offer

Tehran: Iran favours dialogue with world powers over its nuclear programme and will soon give its official response to an invitation for talks, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in remarks published on Friday.

It was the latest signal from Tehran that it will accept the offer of discussions with the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has said Tehran would welcome "constructive" dialogue.

The six powers said last week they would ask European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Iran to a meeting to find "a diplomatic solution to this critical issue", referring to the long-running nuclear row.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted in a Japanese newspaper on Friday as saying: "We are studying the comments of the US government precisely and with respect .

"If the Obama administration turns its expressions of change into reality, there can also be change on our side."