Iranian optimistic about talks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister on Sundayexpressed optimism about what he said was a "new environment"for talks with major powers over its nuclear program.

Foreign Minister Monouchehr Mottaki said recent discussionsover a package of incentives from major powers aimed at gettingIran to curb its nuclear enrichment program were "differentfrom the previous discussions and negotiations."

"I believe that we are now in a new environment with a newapproaching perspective," Mottaki said in an interview on CNN'sFareed Zakaria GPS.

The comments came two days after Iran delivered itsresponse to the package of trade and other incentives proposedby the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Britain andFrance to Iran last month.

The six powers have told Iran that formal negotiations onthe offer, which includes help to develop a civilian nuclearprogram, can start as soon as it suspends uranium enrichment.

Iran has thus far rejected that precondition, saying thisviolates its rights as a signatory of the Non-ProliferationTreaty (NPT).

In the interview, Mottaki also sounded an optimistic noteabout future relations with the United States.

"We hear new voices in America. We see new approaches, andwe think that the rational thinkers in America can, based onthese new approaches, seek reality as it is. We are ready tohelp them in this endeavour," Mottaki said.

Asked specifically about Democratic presidential hopefulBarack Obama, Mottaki declined to comment, saying Obama had runinto trouble in the past for expressing a willingness tonegotiate with Iran.

"So by commenting on this we do not want to create furtherproblems for the U.S. presidential candidates," Mottaki said.

Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, says itsnuclear activities are only aimed at generating power so it canexport more oil but the United States and its European alliessuspect Tehran is pursuing an atomic weapons project.

The U.N. Security Council has imposed three rounds of mildsanctions on Iran over its refusal to comply with demands tosuspend the enrichment of nuclear fuel. Enriched uranium can beused as fuel for power plants but also, if refined much more,provide material for nuclear bombs.

The row over Iran's nuclear work has sparked fears ofmilitary confrontation and helped push oil prices to recordhighs.