Iran's foreign minister says his country is ready to work more closely with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, but only if it drops its investigation into allegations Iran has developed a nuclear weapons program.

Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said Tuesday both Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency should sit together and develop a new mechanism for continuing their work.

His comments came after a meeting in Vienna with IAEA chief Yukiya Amano. The IAEA did not immediately respond to Salehi's statements.

The United States and other Western nations believe Iran is developing a nuclear weapons program. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear projects are for peaceful purposes.

The U.S., European Union and the United Nations have all imposed sanctions on Iran for refusing to cease its enrichment of uranium.