ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Pakistan on Monday supported a ‘legitimate right’ of Iran to peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy and called for avoiding use of force in Tehran’s row with the western countries on the issue.

The foreign ministry spokesman said at his news briefing that Pakistan was encouraging the two sides to go for a peaceful settlement and added that it could mediate only if requested by both sides.

Spokesman Naeem Khan noted that the European

Union (EU) and Iran were already in talks after Tehran resumed uranium conversion last week and said: “We hope that dialogue will culminate successfully.”

He said a use of force ‘must be avoided’ because Pakistan believed that such a course would destabilize the region rather than settling the problem.

Mr Khan said Pakistan also believed that all parties must honour their obligations under international treaties, but added: “We feel that Iran has a legitimate right under the NPT to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

The EU and the United States fear Iran is seeking to produce nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its nuclear programme only aims at generating nuclear energy.