Tehran expressed hope in Athens yesterday that Greece would understand its positions and help find a diplomatic solution to the current crisis concerning Iran's nuclear program.

"We welcome every initiative that might contribute to building trust, because we assure you that the use of nuclear power by Iran concerns exclusively peaceful purposes," Iran's Ambassador to Athens Mehdi Mohtashami told reporters at a press conference.

He stressed that Iran was a signatory of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and did not seek tension but only the ability to exercise its rights.

"Our area suffers from hostile conflicts, instability and lack of security. Iran has shown that it has the determination to protect its rights," he added.

Mohtashani pledged that Tehran was prepared to work with the IAEA as the most appropriate body and with any international bodies necessary to arrive at a logical solution to the emerging crisis.

He accused the United States of putting pressure on the other countries, adding that sanctions would not be the right way to handle the situation since they would have serious negative repercussions for the international community.

Asked how Iran would respond if the international community decided to intervene, the ambassador said the country was "prepared for all outcomes and had examined the worst-case scenarios", including sanctions.

Greece, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, told U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her brief visit here on Tuesday that all diplomatic and political means must be exhausted on the Iran's nuclear issue before any decision made within the framework of the UN Security Council.