TEHRAN, Dec 16: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday his country was ready to transfer nuclear technology to neighbouring countries, state-run television reported, nearly a week after Arab states announced plans to consider a joint nuclear programme.

The television said Mr Ahmadinejad told a top Kuwaiti envoy he welcomed the decision by the GCC to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to transfer to regional states its valuable experience and achievements in the field of peaceful nuclear technology as a clean energy source and as a replacement for oil,” the TV quoted the president as telling Mohammed Zefollah Shirar, a top adviser to the Kuwaiti ruler.

Iran is at odds with the US and its European allies, who accuse Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is aimed solely at the peaceful production of nuclear energy.

In Washington, Edgar Vasquez, a US State Department spokesman, said that Iran’s continued defiance of international nuclear safeguards represents “a serious threat” to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

“We expect Iran to comply with international obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Mr Vasquez said.

“Iran’s non-compliance up to this point is a serious threat -- which we continue to work with our international partners and the international community in the UN Security Council to remedy,” he said.—AP