Iran's visiting Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki yesterday called for the use of diplomatic means in solving Iran's nuclear issue.

He made the appeal at an exclusive interview with the ANA-MPA news agency on the Greek Aegean island of Samos, where he attended a meeting of the presidium of the Socialist International.

Mottaki said the Iranian government was examining the six-nation package of proposals which was submitted by China, France, Germany, Russia, the United States and Britain.

"We hope that the existing positive climate will be preserved, on the basis of the solution of the problem through diplomatic means and negotiations, so that, in a good climate, we can reach a solution that will benefit all the sides," he said.

"A result that on the one hand will recognize Iran's legal right to the development of nuclear technology, while on the other hand will help overcome the others' concerns over the prospect of a diversion from the program to the construction of weapons of mass destruction," said the minister.

Mottaki once again denied accusations that his country was behind the recent attacks on Israel launched by the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

He also warned that a possible attack by Israel against Syria could turn the entire region into a war zone and rally the Arab and Muslim world even more closely against Israel.