Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says Iran is considering a proposal by the US to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran.

"The request of the United States has been made via the media in a non-official fashion," Mottaki said at a news conference in the Syrian capital, Damascus on Thursday.

He highlighted that the opening of an American interests section is the object of a study underway in Iran.

Britain's The Guardian newspaper said Thursday that Washington would announce its plans next month.

The paper, without identifying its sources, said the Bush administration planned to establish an interests section staffed with diplomats similar to its outpost in Cuba.

The interests section, or de facto embassy, in the Iranian capital would process visa applications and serve as a center for American cultural activities for locals.

Iran and the United States have not had diplomatic relations since the victory of the Islamic revolution in 1979.

The United States relies on the Swiss Embassy in Tehran to look after its interests in the Islamic republic. Currently, the Swiss relay messages to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Washington's behalf and handle the affairs of US citizens in the country.

© Press