Iran is prepared to settle the dispute with Kuwait over the continental shelf, the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait says.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas, Ali Jannati said that Tehran has always been prepared to hold dialogue with the Kuwaitis on the continental shelf issue, IRNA reported on Sunday.

"In a meeting with the Kuwaiti emir, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki announced that Tehran is ready to continue holding dialogue on the ongoing problems," he added.

The ambassador also stated that there have been certain cases of unauthorized vessels crossing into territorial waters in the Persian Gulf because the maritime borders have not been demarcated in the same way as land borders.

"However, if it is proven that such persons had entered the waters only for fishing and nothing else, there will be no problem," Jannati said.

HSH/SS/HGL