Pope welcome to visit Iran, Tehran says

Feb 8, 2012, 14:42 GMT

Rome - Iran's ambassador to the Vatican said Wednesday Pope Benedict XVI is welcome to visit Iran and that Vatican officials could play a role to resolve the international spat over Tehran's nuclear programme.

'If the Holy Father decides to embark on such a visit, we would be ready to welcome him in an excellent way and with enthusiasm,' Ambassador Ali Akbar Naseri was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.

An invitation by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for the pontiff to visit the Islamic Republic dates back to November 2010 when the Vatican's top interfaith dialogue official, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran visited Tehran, Naseri said.

Iran and the Holy See had 'very sincere and cordial relations,' that were cemented by talks every two years with the next round scheduled to take place October in Rome, Naseri said.

'When I presented my credentials (as ambassador) Pope Benedict XVI said that the peaceful use of nuclear (power) is a right of each nation,' Naseri said, according to ANSA.

The Iranian ambassador also said he believed that Vatican envoys to the European Union could 'contribute in a positive way' to defuse tensions over Iran's nuclear programme.