Iranian state TV is quoting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as saying Iran would welcome the idea of setting up a U.S. diplomatic office in Tehran.

Sunday’s report quotes the Iranian leader as saying he would consider an American request to set up an interests section in Iran. He says he “welcomes any move to expand ties.”

But Ahmadinejad says his government hasn’t received any official request for such an office.

Last month, U.S. officials floated the idea but no formal requests were made.

Iran has operated an interests section in Washington for years. But the U.S. hasn’t had any diplomatic presence in Tehran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and hostage-taking at the U.S. Embassy there.