(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-30 07:40

BEIJING -- With tensions heightening over Iran's thorny nuclear issue, Tehran has decided to unveil a package of proposals to defuse its nuclear row with the West, which accuses the Islamic country of seeking to produce nuclear weapons.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili (R) and Valentin Sobolev, acting secretary of Russia's National Security Council, attend a news conference in Tehran April 28, 2008. Iran has prepared a package of "serious" proposals to help defuse a nuclear row with world powers, Jalili said on Monday after talks with Sobolev. [Agencies]

Saeed Jalili, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Monday that the Islamic Republic has prepared a package of "serious proposals" aimed at solving world problems, including the nuclear standoff with the West.

"Iran ... has serious proposals regarding the nuclear issue, about what to do to minimise the nuclear threat around the world," he said after talks with a visiting Russian delegation.

Jalili, who is also Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator, said the package bears proposals on reducing nuclear threats to the least possible degree, prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation, promotion of nuclear cooperation among different countries and other international issues.

He said that the ideas addressed security and political issues and would underpin "talks among influential and major powers, and Iran as a major power in the region can play an important role."

"The package potentially can be the topic for discussion with influential countries," the top nuclear negotiator added.

A senior diplomat in Europe said that Iran had earlier proposed turning its Natanz enrichment complex into a multilateral operation to counter foreign fears of diversions to bombmaking there, and that this might be among Iran's proposals.

No further details about the content of the package have been unveiled.

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