(TEHRAN) - Iran will deliver its response on Friday to proposals offered by world powers to end the standoff over its nuclear programme, top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was quoted as saying.

"The Islamic republic has prepared and presented a response to the letter of the six countries with a constructive and creative view and a focus on common ground," Jalili was quoted by state television as telling EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in a telephone call.

"On this basis, the Islamic republic's response to the letter of the six countries' foreign ministers will be delivered today," he added.

Last month Solana, on behalf of the world powers, presented Iran with a letter from six foreign ministers and a package offering Tehran technological incentives and full negotiations if it suspends uranium enrichment.

Jalili did not give further details on the contents of the response and did not say if it would be a simple "yes or no" answer to the package offered by world powers or something more vague.

He also said that both sides agreed that talks would be held again by the end of the current Iranian month of Tir, which ends in two weeks, without specifying further.

Solana was quoted as saying that: "I am sure that by taking positive steps the atmosphere of talks will be constructive and create hope."

Iran has also put forward its own more all-embracing offer aimed at solving world problems, including the nuclear issue, and has said there is common ground between the two packages.

There has been considerable speculation in recent days that Tehran was softening its tone on the nuclear standoff.

The foreign policy adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati, said that it would be in Iran's interest to accept the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has also spoken of a "new process" under way in the crisis.

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