Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday in Geneva that Iran hoped the nuclear issue could be solved through diplomatic negotiations within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The referral of the nuclear issue to the UN Security Council was a mistaken move, which could only weaken the position of the IAEA, Mottaki told reporters after addressing a session of the Conference on Disarmament.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement on Wednesday afternoon calling on Iran to resume suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities within 30 days.

Mottaki said the IAEA had clear concepts for rights and obligations of member states, so he concluded that it was an appropriate place to look for a settlement of the nuclear issue.

Further importance should be added to the work of the IAEA so that certain solutions to problems could be found within the agency, he said.

Source: Xinhua