Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday ruled out any talks with world powers on Tehran's nuclear drive, but said he was open to a debate with US President Barack Obama.
"We have said this before and we are saying it right now, that we will not talk about the nuclear issue with those outside the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," he told journalists.
"The Iranian nation will not allow anyone outside the IAEA to discuss our nuclear issue," said Mr Ahmadinejad, who is running for a second term in office in the June 12 presidential election.
"The nuclear issue is over for us. The talks outside the IAEA will only be about participation in the management of the world and bringing peace to the world," he said.
However, he said he was ready to have a debate at the United Nations with Mr Obama to "study the root of world problems", adding that he welcomed the change in policy from the new US leader who has said he was open to dialogue with Iran.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana held talks with Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili in April about discussions with the group of world powers known as the P5-plus-1 on Tehran's controversial atomic activities.
Mr Solana has been authorised by the six powers - UN Security Council veto-wielding permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany - to discuss the issue with Tehran.
In April, Iran said it was ready for "constructive dialogue" with the world powers, while at the same time vowing to continue with its nuclear activities which have been the subject of an IAEA investigation for several years.
The West fears that Iran's nuclear drive could be a cover for efforts to build an atomic bomb, but Tehran insists it is aimed purely at generating electricity for a growing population.
Mr Ahmadinejad has said previously that Tehran would present its own package of proposals to the six powers - a new version of proposals offered by Iran in May 2008, which proposed the formation of consortiums to enrich uranium and manufacture nuclear fuel, including one in Iran.
The P5-plus-1 group's dialogue with Iran has been on hold since last September.
Ahmadinejad's remarks come after US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said in an interview on Sunday that Iran was moving closer to acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.
"Certainly from what I've seen in recent years, Iran is on a path to develop nuclear weapons," he told ABC television.
"Most of us believe that it is one to three years (away from acquiring nuclear weapons), depending on assumptions about where they are right now. But they are moving closer clearly and they continue to do that," he said.
"And if you believe that is their strategic intent, as I do and certainly as my Israeli counterpart does, that's the principal concern."
Israel's military intelligence chief asserted in March that Iran will have the capacity to build a nuclear bomb within a year, but was not rushing to produce one.
However, Admiral Mullen said a military strike against Iran "right now would be incredibly serious, as well as the unintended consequences of their achieving a weapon."
"That's why this engagement, dialogue is so important," he said.
Mr Obama told reporters after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington last week that he expected to know by the end of the year whether the Iranian leadership was making "a good faith effort to resolve differences."
"We are not going to have talks forever," Mr Obama said.
Mr Ahmadinejad said yesterday that he welcomed the US change of policy under Mr Obama, but added the US administration must "step out of the ivory tower... and not waste its and our time."