"In the meeting in Geneva, we are ready to discuss some issues, including our willingness to purchase 20-percent enriched uranium for our domestic needs," Ahmadinejad told the Washington Post.

"Iran, in return, will offer solutions to the changes that are required. If Mr. Bush's policies are to be continued with new language, we will not be able to achieve much... If these policies do not change, no real change will happen," he added.

Ahmadinejad was responding to a question about how US President Barack Obama compares with his predecessor George Bush and whether he is someone Iran could do business with.

"We have a reactor in Tehran that produces nuclear medicine based on radioactive technologies. It requires 19.75 percent enrichment. We are prepared to purchase this material," the president explained.

"We are prepared... to engage in nuclear cooperation as well as to discuss our need to purchase these materials. I think it is a very robust proposal which gives a good opportunity for a fresh start," he added.

However, Ahmadinejad did point out that the offer does not mean that Iran is prepared to suspend uranium enrichment.

"Our level of enrichment is currently at 3.5 percent - within a range of 3 to 5 percent. The materials go to nuclear power plants. They are useless for a bomb. A bomb needs enriched uranium to the grade of 99.7 percent. We believe that the possession of nuclear bombs is immoral," said Ahmadinejad.

"These nuclear materials we are seeking to purchase are for medicinal purposes. The 20 percent material is to produce the drugs... They are working on these drugs in Tehran right now. Our reactors are really busy trying to produce these drugs," he added.

"They have already produced about 20 different kinds of nuclear medicines but we need to foresee our needs for the next 20 years and we do need further enriched material."

Ahmadinejad said the nuclear reactor in Tehran has been operating for the past two or three decades producing medicine, and added that, so far, Iran has been acquiring the 20 percent enriched uranium it needs from other countries.

During the interview, Ahmadinejad also expressed his views on other issues such as cooperation with the US in Afghanistan, the Holocaust, and Iran's post-election unrest, taking much the same positions as he had previously taken.

At the end the discussion, the Washington Post journalist also appealed to the president for the release of his colleague Maziar Bahari, who was arrested during Iran's post-election unrest, to which Ahmadinejad responded by promising to do what he could.