Iran president dismisses demand to halt atom work

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's president expressed openness for talks with the United States but again dismissed demands to halt nuclear work the West fears is aimed at making bombs, in an interview with Germany's Der Spiegel news magazine.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also called for "fundamental changes" in Washington's policies, echoing comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials.

"If the behaviour of the United States changes, we can expect to see important progress," he said in the interview posted on Der Spiegel's website, referring to decades of mistrust between Tehran and Washington.

The new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama, in a reversal of George W. Bush's approach, has offered a "new beginning" of diplomatic engagement if the Islamic Republic "unclenches its fist".

Breaking with past U.S. policy of shunning direct talks with Tehran, Washington last week said it would join discussions with Iran on its disputed nuclear programme from now on.

Der Spiegel said the interview was conducted about a week ago, before the United States and five other world powers said they would invite Iran to a meeting on the nuclear issue.

An aide to Ahmadinejad has said Iran would review the offer.

Iran has reacted cautiously to Washington's overtures, saying it wants to see a real shift in U.S. policy from the Bush administration, which spearheaded a drive to isolate Tehran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium.

"We support talks on the basis of fairness and respect. That has always been our position. We are waiting for Obama to announce his plans, so that we can analyze them," Ahmadinejad said in an English translation of the interview.