Washington has long accused Tehran of trying to create nuclear weapons, while Iran has maintained that its program is strictly civilian.

Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, made the comments to reporters on Monday.  The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) signaled Tehran was ready to show some flexibility on the United States' demands to end its nuclear program and adopt a "zero enrichment" policy.

Tehran would consider diluting its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium, which is close to weapons-grade, if "all sanctions would be lifted in return," Eslami stated. The AEOI boss did not say whether his proposal was related only to unilateral US sanctions or restrictions imposed on the country by other nations as well.  –RT

The US and Iran have had poor relations for decades. Those already-strained relations have rapidly deteriorated following several unsuccessful rounds of talks on the country's nuclear program held early last year. The unfruitful negotiations were followed by a 12-day war between Iran and Israel, which ended when the US bombed Tehran's nuclear facilities.