UN Chief Voices Support for Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Program

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - "The Islamic Republic of Iran is entitled to the right to make use of the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," the UN Chief reiterated during a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran on Wednesday.

"We should strive to build confidence between the two sides and resolve the existing problems at the earliest," he continued.

Ban Ki-moon is in Tehran to attend a heads-of-state summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and meet with Islamic Republic leaders to discuss an array of regional issues, specially the Syrian problem.

Elsewhere, the UN chief condemned global terrorism. "Iran is a victim of terrorism in the world," he said, and voiced regret over the damage and losses Iran has sustained due to this devilish phenomenon.

He further reiterated Iran's outstanding role in the region, and called for Tehran's increased efforts to resolve the regional issues, specially the crisis in Syria.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a regional power, can make its utmost efforts for a peaceful settlement of the problems in Syria."

He said the UN wants a cessation of hostilities and the start of talks in Syria, and added, "Unfortunately, there is a gap in the UN Security Council over this (Syria) issue, which has led to the loss of more lives in that country, while attention must be focused on the stop of killings and clashes in Syria."

The UN secretary-general expressed the hope that the officials participating in the 16th NAM summit could send "a strong and definite message for the settlement of the problems in Syria".

The 16th NAM heads-of-state summit will be held in the Iranian capital, Tehran, this Thursday and Friday.

The NAM's experts meeting kicked off work in the Iranian capital on Sunday and was followed by the foreign ministers' meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.

/219