Iran may consider suggestion of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on opening US interest section in Tehran, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

Iranian interest section is operating in Washington and Iran had put forward a proposal to resume direct flights between Tehran and New York for facilitating visit to Iran of the Iranian nationals living in the United States.

"Contacts between Iranians and the American people will be a useful step for better understanding of the two nations," Mottaki told reporters in New York.

The foreign minister who is currently in New York to attend a meeting of Economic and Social Council of the United Nations on June 30-July 3 added that Iran advocates academic and sports exchanges between the two countries.

"Iranian academics and students have invited their American counterparts to the country to share their research and scientific achievements."

By visiting Iran, the American people can acquire the truth about Iran, Mottaki added.