MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - Tehran is ready to cooperate with the international community on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament issues, the IRNA news agency has said citing the country's chief nuclear negotiator.

"Disarmament issues and nuclear non-proliferation are the two areas of international cooperation in which Iran is ready to cooperate with the international community," the agency quoted Saeed Jalili as saying on Sunday.

He said joint efforts by Iran and the international community will help to free the world of nuclear weapons.

Western powers suspect Iran of developing a nuclear program aimed at the production of an atomic weapon. Iran says the program is for the peaceful generation of energy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier set a goal of producing about 250-300 metric tons of nuclear fuel annually. Ten new enrichment facilities will be built in the country soon.

The statements came after the council of managing directors of the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA censured Iran for withholding information on its nuclear program. It also urged Iran to freeze construction of its newly revealed uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom.