TEHRAN - The Islamic Republic is prepared to hold talks with the West including the U.S. over its nuclear program in an equal footing and without preconditions, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini told a weekly press briefing on Sunday.

“Iran has already announced that it is prepared to hold talks with the group of 5+1 in an equal and just manner with mutual respect and without preconditions,” Hosseini said in response to a call by the U.S. President George W. Bush who told a group of businessmen and women last week in Pennsylvania that he would negotiate with Iran if it suspended its nuclear program.
In an interview aired Friday on Al-Arabiya, Bush again said, ""I have said that if they suspend their nuclear program, we will be at the table (for talks).”
Hosseini reiterated that Iran would not accept a suspension of its nuclear activities as a precondition for negotiations.
However, the spokesman stated that Bush's remarks this time were ""clearer than previous ones” but it did not suggest a new stance toward Iran’s nuclear program by Washington.
“What was mentioned in Mr. Bush’s statements was clearer than the previous ones but it did not contain a new position. And the subject of negotiations after suspension of enrichment (activities) was a point which we had already heard from the U.S. officials” and Iran had responded to it, the spokesman explained.
Tehran has repeatedly announced that negotiations should “raise new issues” that would pay respect to the legal rights of the Islamic Republic, Hosseini stressed.
Larijani, Solana to hold new round of talks
Hosseini added that Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana are scheduled to hold talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
The two sides have yet to specify a date for negotiations, added the spokesman.
Iran, IAEA to hold talks Tuesday
Iran is to hold a new round of talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday, Hosseini said.
The talks are a follow-up to a nuclear deal between Iran and IAEA in which Tehran has agreed to answer the remaining questions about its nuclear activities on a timetable. The IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei has called the agreement ""an important step in the right direction.""
Tehran to host Caspian Sea summit on Oct. 16
The second summit of the five Caspian Sea littoral states will be held in Tehran on October 16. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be among the leaders attending the high profile meeting.
The meeting is to raise issues of mutual interest including the Caspian Sea legal regime and the most important regional and global issues, Hosseini remarked.
The Caspian Sea littoral states summit was first held in Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat in 2002.
Substantive talks on Bushehr power plant
Asked about the conclusion of negotiations between Iran and Russia for starting up the Bushehr power plant within the framework of the technical committees established for the purpose, Hosseini said the technical talks are continuing on the issue.
The Iranian side is trying to reach a “clear and substantive results” on the completion of the nuclear plant before President Putin would arrive in Tehran for the summit.
Turkish foreign minister to visit Tehran
The Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed reports that the Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan is scheduled to travel to Tehran on October 21.