The 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group has urged Iran to "cooperate fully" with the UN nuclear watchdog agency IAEA and seek a diplomatic solution to the dispute over its nuclear program.
A meeting last week of the NSG, which sets guidelines for the export of nuclear-related equipment, material and technology, focused particularly on Iran, the Brazilian foreign ministry said.
"The participating governments expressed full support of the continuing effort by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to fulfill its mandate in Iran, and they called on Iran to cooperate fully with the agency in this matter," the ministry said in a statement released late Monday.
The member countries of the NSG also fully supported the "processes under way in diverse fora with the aim of identifying a diplomatic solution for the Iranian nuclear question," the statement said of the NSG meeting held Thursday and Friday in Brasilia.
Iran, which has resumed uranium-enrichment activities, insists that its goal is to produce fuel for future civilian nuclear reactors. However, the United States and other Western countries suspect that Tehran wants to use the technology to develop a nuclear bomb.
In addition to Brazil, the current NSG participating governments include Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, South Africa and the United States.
The European Commission participates as an observer.
Source: Agence France-Presse
