Friday, May 26 2006 10:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Iran yesterday (May 25, 2006) reiterated its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy but said it was prepared to negotiate with the international community.

"The right to nuclear technology is the right of every nation," First Vice President Parviz Dayoudi told a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad after talks.

"In order to provide greater assurances to the international community we are prepared to continue with negotiations," Dayoudi said.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany suspect that Iran is carrying out a covert programme to build a nuclear bomb and are lobbying to have the UN Security Council to take action.

Iran insists it wants to enrich uranium to make reactor fuel, although the process can be extended to make weapons.

"Nuclear arsenals and weapons have no place in Iran's military strategy. It is also forbidden in our faith and religion to have nuclear armaments. Our nuclear activities are fully peaceful," Dayoudi said.

Aziz said nuclear-armed Pakistan supported Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy and wanted a negotiated settlement of the row.

"On the nuclear issue Pakistan always respects the right of every country to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," Aziz said.

"We hope that the current challenge on the nuclear question would be settled peacefully and will be settled in a way that this problem can go away through diplomacy and dialogue," he added.