Tehran - Iran on Wednesday reiterated its willingness to resume nuclear talks with world powers.

In a statement by the National Security Council, Iran once again declared its readiness to resume a dialogue with the five permanent UN Security Council member states - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany.

Iran, however, noted that it would continue its nuclear programmes within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The talks, which ground to a halt last year, revolve around fears by the international community that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability while Iran maintains its programme is purely for producing energy.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saaid Jalili, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana made an initial agreement to restart the talks during a telephone conversation last week, but the date and venue of the new round of negotiations was still unclear.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, however, Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment, which has been the subject of three Security Council resolutions. (dpa)