KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Friday welcomed the United States' readiness to join multilateral negotiations with Iran over the nuclear issue,saying that it would be a relief to the world.

    Badawi said that he welcomed the statement issued by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in Washington on Wednesday, noting that it showed a change in the U.S.'s stand.

    This was a good move, which means force is no longer the primary option, Badawi was quoted as saying by Malaysia's nationalnews agency Bernama.

    A negotiation should be the approach to resolve the issue and it was important for Iran and the U.S. to meet at the negotiating table considering they had a history of enmity, he told a press conference at Cyberjaya, a cyber town near here.

    It was reported that Rice said in Washington on Wednesday that the U.S. was ready to join France, Germany and Britain in the negotiation with Iran, if Iran stops uranium enrichment and nuclear material recycling activities. Enditem