Arab League chief stresses Iran has rights to nuclear civil development

Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa in Cairo yesterday said diplomacy would be the best solution to the Iran nuclear issue.

Moussa made the remarks at a meeting with Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani before the latter wound up an official two-day visit to Egypt on Sunday.

He expressed support for Iran's position on the nuclear standoff with the West, and said in his opinion all countries in the Middle East region have the right to access nuclear energy for development.

Referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran as an "ally" and "close friend" of the Arab world, he praised Tehran's support for Palestine and the Arab states since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The Arab League secretary general urged Tehran and Arab governments to continue their financial support to the popular Palestinian government so that it can achieve its goals.

Pointing to Iran's stance on developments in Iraq, he pointed out that most Iraqis, either Shiites or Sunnis, are Muslims who have been living alongside each other for centuries.

Larijani, for his part, said providing assistance to the new Iraqi government would be the only solution to end the country's occupation and restore much-needed security.