SHANGHAI, June 15: Iran has the right to nuclear technology but it should not cause concern to the rest of the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin said here on Thursday as he met the Iranian president.

“All countries including Iran have the right to use high technology but they need to do it in a way that does not arouse concerns on the part of the international community,” Mr Putin said before meeting Mr Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization annual summit, Mr Putin told Mr Ahmadinejad he wanted to discuss the incentive offer put forward by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

“I hope to discuss the suggestion formulated by the six-party group solving the question of the nuclear problem. Russia has always been an attentive and reliable partner of Iran,” Mr Putin said.

Mr Ahmadinejad replied that Iran would act in the interests of global peace, but did not comment specifically on the package of incentives being offered to Tehran in return for it giving up uraniam enrichment.

“Concerning security policy, our cooperation can have a serious influence on the peace and security of the region... our cooperation will be in the interest of global peace and security,” Mr Ahmadinejad said.

Iran, which says its nuclear programme is strictly for energy use and not an weapons programme as the West fears, has not given a formal response.

The Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday it welcomed Iran’s willingness to consider the proposal.

“We welcome their expression of willingness to negotiate with parties for a solution and hope they could respond to the plan positively,” said ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu.

Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to meet Mr Ahmadinejad on Friday morning.

The SCO groups China and Russia with the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Iran is one of four observer nations to the group.—AFP