ANKARA, April 20: The foreign ministers of Turkey and Pakistan, said on Thursday that diplomacy must be given a chance to solve the nuclear crisis over Iran, with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul adding that “nobody wants war.”

“Pakistan is against the use of force,” the country’s Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri told reporters during a joint news conference. “We do not wish to have an unstable border with Iran.” “We prefer that diplomacy be given a chance,” Kasuri added.

Gul said: “Nobody wants war and especially not Turkey.”

“Everyone must work for a solution through diplomatic channels,” he added.

Iran has consistently resisted calls for it to abandon its enrichment programme, saying it is intended for peaceful energy purposes. The United States and Britain — both concerned Tehran may be trying to develop nuclear weapons — say that if Iran does not comply with the UN Security Council’s April 28 deadline to stop enrichment, they will seek a resolution that would make the demand compulsory.

Kasuri said as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran “has obligations and it also has rights.”—AP