Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Monday that Iran is ready to start cooperation with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in the area of nuclear technology.

Answering questions raised by participants in the 17th International Persian Gulf Conference, he reiterated that such cooperation would be under full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On Tehran-Cairo relations, he said Iran and Egypt are two major regional countries whose nations have played and still play historic roles in the region.

Referring to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad`s remarks regarding relations with Egypt, Mottaki said that his Egyptian counterpart had welcomed Ahmadinejad`s remarks and stressed that Cairo`s practical policy was also to that end.

As to the ongoing Iran-US talks on Iraq in Baghdad, he said if the US is seriously willing to solve the existing problems in Iraq, there will be hope for success of such talks.

If there exists any will for settlement of Iraqi problems, Tehran will be ready to cooperate not only as its duty as a neighboring country, but also for the sake of its own security, Mottaki said.

Underlining the need for preparing a practical program for withdrawal of the US troops from Iraq, he said the responsibility of establishing security in Iraq should be given to the Iraqi government.