Russia's Putin hopeful on Iran nuclear talks

MOSCOW, June 20 (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope today that Iran's standoff with the West over its nuclear programme could be solved within the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Tehran says it wants to use nuclear power to generate electricity but the West suspects the programme is a disguised atomic bomb project.

Six world powers, the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany, have given Iran until mid-July to reply to an offer of incentives to stop purifying uranium. Iran has said it is ready to talk, but without preconditions.

''Our job is to use the negotiating process of the six nations and Iran to return the question to the framework of the IAEA,'' Putin told reporters after meeting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

''Judging from what we heard from our Iranian partners in Shanghai I think that is entirely possible,'' he added.

Putin met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a regional summit in Shanghai last week.

Iran has said it is considering the package of incentives, the details of which have not been made public.

REUTERS MP PM2253