Ahmadinejad, speaking to crowds in the northeastern city of Mashhad, said the West has gone from “confrontation to cooperation,” according to state-run Press TV, and praised the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as “playing a genuine role.”

“One, they told us to stop (nuclear work,)” he said. “Now they express readiness to cooperate with us in exchange of fuel, expansion of the technology and construction of power plants and atomic reactors.”

He said his nation is ready to talk with the United States and its allies in developing Iran’s nuclear program, and he described a current draft proposal as a “victory” for Iran…

“We welcome the exchange of fuel, technical cooperation and construction of power plants and reactors and we are prepared to cooperate (in those areas),” he said.