Moscow, Aug 18 (RIA Novosti) Iran is ready to hold talks on its nuclear programme with the West without any preconditions, a senior Iranian official said Tuesday.

'Iran's main position on talks regarding (the country's) nuclear programme is that discussions should be held without any preliminary conditions,' said Ali Ashgar Soltanieh, Iran's envoy at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The US and other Western countries accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a peaceful nuclear programme. Tehran has denied the accusations, saying its nuclear programme is for civilian energy purposes only.

Iran is under a series of UN Security Council sanctions amid demands that it cease enriching uranium that could possibly used for the development of nuclear arms.