Iran wants diplomacy to resolve nuclear stand-off

IRAN'S president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has surprised critics by stating that diplomacy is the way out of his country's stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.

In an apparent U-turn, Mr Ahmadinejad yesterday said he was "serious" about negotiating with the United Nations Security Council, just one day after he asserted that his country would not give up its "nuclear rights".

Tehran has already failed to meet a UN deadline to stop expanding uranium enrichment programmes amid western suspicions it is seeking a pathway to an atomic bomb.

Mr Ahmadinejad has previously signalled he will not accept international community demands, reinforcing what Iran regards as its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium for a civilian power programme.