The letter was handed over by visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Sayed Jalili, the source told AFP.
Prodi and his Foreign Minister Massimo d'Alema recognised Iran's "legitimate aspiration to be recognised as a regional power" while urging it to "co-operate to resolve the main problems in the region," the source said.
"Iran should use its weight and influence with a view to full stabilisation of the region," he said.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2006