Iran's presidential hopeful Mir- Hossein Mousavi said on Friday that he would continue nuclear talks with major powers if elected as president, Xinhua reported.
"I will continue talks with the group 5+1 if elected as Iran's president," former Prime Minister Mousavi told reporters at a press conference.
"Iran will not give up (nuclear) technology. It's our permanent policy," he stressed.
He said he will separate the issue of nuclear technology from the question of whether Iran is seeking a nuclear bomb, adding that "what we can discuss is finding ways to (guarantee) our nuclear program will not deviate from (peaceful) path."
Mousavi's remarks came after Iran's incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday talks over the nuclear issue should only be held within the framework of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that talks outside the IAEA will only be about the participation in the management of the globe and about peace in the world.
Mousavi also said that holding talks with the United States is not a "taboo" for him.
"There is a possibility to become better," he said, "but the ( Iran's) relation with the United States is complicated and it takes time."
He urged the United States to show more positive signs such as ending sanctions and removing obstacles in buying airplanes.
The United States and other Western countries claim that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.
Iran, however, insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, vowing to continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure and sanctions from Western countries.
In response to an invitation for dialogue by Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany (Group 5+1), Iran's Ahmadinejad announced in April that Iran would offer a new proposal package to the world.
"The document would be the guarantee of peace and justice in the world, of respect to the rights of nations, and of participation of all the governments and nations to resolve the issues of the world," he said.
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