Iran says it would not oppose an initiative by Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to mediate between Tehran and an Obama White House.

The Turkish Premier suggested on Friday Ankara could play a positive role in mediating between Tehran and Washington -- which have had no diplomatic ties for three decades and are now at loggerheads over Iran's nuclear program.

"If Turkey plays such a role, it could have a positive impact on the process," Erdogan told a press conference in Washington.

Ankara enjoys good relations with Tehran.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that Tehran would not hinder any Turkish bid to mediate nuclear talks with the West.

"We think the comments stem from Turkish goodwill and the flourishing neighborly ties between Iran and Turkey. We will certainly not create any obstacles in the way of such moves," said Hassan Qashqavi at a press conference in the ministry.

"But the reality is that the issue and problems between Iran and the United States go beyond the usual political problems between two states," Qashqavi added.

US President-elect Barack Obama has expressed desire to engage the government in Tehran with direct negotiations over its nuclear program.

He, however, has not stopped short of declaring that toughening already-existing sanctions against Iran is not off the table.

Obama's proposed policy has been met with stark opposition in Tel Aviv, where Israeli echelons have described potential talks between Tehran and Washington as a form of 'weakness' for their allies in the White House.

Introduced and advocated by the Bush administration, the US has long pursued a carrot-and-stick policy toward Tehran regarding its nuclear program.

Qashqavi, meanwhile, raised the question whether a new US administration would change the policies of its predecessor.

"Some 30 years after the Islamic Revolution, the US still has a negative stance towards Iranians," the Iranian spokesman said.

"Mr. Obama has come forward with slogans of change. We now have to wait and see whether the change in orientation [of Washington] is serious or not," he concluded.

Analysts believe the Obama White House could be forced into talks with Iran over its nuclear program as Russia and China, two veto-wielding Security Council members, have expressed their opposition to the adoption of any new UNSC sanction against Tehran.

MD/HGH