Iran willing to continue nuclear talks: Official

Tehran: A senior official says Iran is willing to continue talks with world powers over its nuclear program until they reach a conclusion.

Ali Akbar Velayati, international adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted on Friday by the semiofficial news agency ISNA.

He said Iran will pursue nuclear talks until their "positive and constructive conclusion." His remarks indicate willingness at the highest level of the Iranian leadership to continue the contacts.

Ali Akbar Velayati said Iran will pursue nuclear talks until their \"positive and constructive conclusion.\"

Velayati, a former foreign minister, said the West should recognise Iran's right to peaceful nuclear activities. The West suspects that Iran is aiming to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies that, countering that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

This week, negotiators from Iran and the European Union held talks in Istanbul about Iran's nuclear programme.

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