Iran to hand over proposals to powers on Wednesday

Iran will deliver to six world powers on Wednesday a package of proposals which Tehran has said addresses global nuclear and other "challenges," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Iranian officials had earlier said it would be handed over this week to the major powers -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany -- but Mottaki's comment gave the most specific timeframe so far.

"This very week, in other words during tomorrow, the package will be delivered," Mottaki told a news conference, without making clear how and where it would happen.

"We hope that, in the framework of this package, we will be able to launch a new round of talks," he said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Iran was ready for dialogue on "challenges" facing the world but made clear it would not back down in a dispute over atomic activities which the West fears are aimed at making bombs.

Iran says it wants only electricity from uranium enrichment.

Ahmadinejad snubbed U.S. President Barack Obama's end-September deadline to talk to world powers on Iran's disputed nuclear program, saying in his opinion discussion on the issue was "finished" and Tehran would not negotiate on its "rights."

Iran was ready to negotiate and cooperate on making "peaceful use of clean nuclear energy" available for all countries and in preventing the spread of nuclear arms, Ahmadinejad told Monday's news conference.

Obama has given Tehran until later this month to take up a six powers' offer of talks on trade benefits if it stops nuclear enrichment, or face harsher sanctions.