EU ready to give Iran earthquake relief

A European Union official says the bloc is prepared to offer humanitarian assistant to Iran after more than 300 people were killed in earthquakes there last weekend.

Catherine Ray, spokeswoman for the EU's development commission, says the 27-nation bloc will provide help if approached by the Tehran government or the Red Crescent society.

Iran's Red Crescent said Monday the country didn't need foreign assistance and sent back a rescue team from Turkey that arrived without advance coordination. But in an apparent change of heart, an Iran leader said Tuesday that foreign aid is now welcome.

EU officials said that they had not yet received a request for help. They also said that despite the quakes the bloc is not prepared to lift sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.