Kuwait urged neighboring Iran on Thursday to accept a U.S. offer for joining the European countries in direct talks with Iran over its nuclear issue.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) as saying that the U.S proposal was a "positive step" toward "a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue."

"Aware of regional security and stability, Kuwait hopes that the neighboring Islamic Republic will agree to this initiative as it will have positive results, "the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, a statement of the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry released late Wednesday night said that Kuwait "welcomes the announcement made by the U.S. on joining the European Union regarding negotiations with Iran with the aim of reaching a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program if Iran announces the suspension of uranium enrichment."

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Washington would join the European countries in talks with Iran if Tehran suspends enrichment.

In response, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday that Iran was ready to hold talks with Washington but would not halt enrichment activities.

Kuwait, a Gulf Arab state, has been wary of Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran said is fully peaceful.

Kuwait has said that Iran has the right to peaceful nuclear technology, but insisted that the Mideast region should be free of nuclear weapons.

Source: Xinhua