WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that she was ready to meet "any time, anywhere" with Iranian officials if Iran suspended its enrichment of uranium.

    "I repeat an offer that I have made several times, today. If Iran suspends its uranium enrichment, which is an international demand and not just an American one, then the United States is prepared to reverse 27 years of policy and I will meet with my Iranian counterpart any time, anywhere," Rice told a news conference.

    The United States has been demanding Iran stop uranium enrichment which is a necessary step both in nuclear energy making and the making of a nuclear bomb.

    Iran insists its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes.

    Washington and Tehran severed diplomatic relations after Iranian students stormed in 1979 the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held its occupants hostage for 444 days to protest Washington's refusal to hand over the toppled shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. ¡¡