Iran's former chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran's nuclear issue could be resolved if world powers entered negotiations "seriously," Tehran Times daily reported Saturday.

Rouhani told reporters here Friday that "Iran has always said that it is ready to hold serious negotiations," and that the issues between Iran and the West, whether nuclear or otherwise, must be resolved through dialogue.

"When the West is increasing pressure and at the same time is talking about negotiations, then negotiations mean surrender," he was quoted as saying.

"If negotiations are serious and based on mutual understanding, there is no need to take such tough actions," he said, adding that if the West sought to make the Iranian nation surrender, it would never achieve its goal.

Iran and the West are locked in a bitter dispute over the former's nuclear activities, with the latter accusing Tehran of developing nuclear weapon under the cover of peaceful purpose, a charge Iran has consistently denied.

Iran has agreed recently to start fresh talks with the so- called P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- on Feb. 26 in Kazakhstan.

Also, Rouhani ruled out the likelihood of military confrontation between Iran and the United States, saying that Tehran and Washington could iron out the existing problems in a " win-win" alternative, Press TV reported Saturday.

"If the Americans show honesty and they are ready to resolve the problems between the two countries, a win-win game is possible, " said Rouhani.

The United States and Israel have not ruled out the possibility of striking Iran's nuclear facilities. The Islamic republic has threatened that it will retaliate if its nuclear establishments are hit.

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