Iran cooperation with gulf states in nuclear area

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today that Iran is ready to start cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the area of nuclear technology.

Answering questions raised by participants in the 17th International Persian Gulf Conference, he reiterated that such cooperation would be under full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On Iran-Egypt relations, he said Iran and Egypt are two major regional countries whose nations have played and still play historic roles in the region.

Referring to President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's remarks regarding relations with Egypt, Mottaki said that his Egyptian counterpart had welcomed Ahmadi-Nejad's remarks and stressed that Egypt's practical policy was also to that end.

As to the ongoing Iran-US talks on Iraq in Baghdad, he said if the US is seriously willing to solve the existing problems in Iraq, there will be hope for success of such talks.

If there exists any will for settlement of Iraqi problems, Tehran will be ready to cooperate not only as its duty as a neighboring country, but also for the sake of its own security, Mottaki said.

Underlining the need for preparing a practical program for withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq, he said the responsibility of establishing security in Iraq should be given to the Iraqi government.