Iran needs to prove that its nuclear program has peaceful nature, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday, ITAR-TASS reports.
Commenting on confrontation in the West and Iran, Ban Ki-moon said that he had discussed the issue with Iranian leaders. He added that the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency causes concerns over the military nature of the program.
The secretary general expressed confidence that there is no alternative to peaceful settlement of the conflict. He urged the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany to start a dialogue with Iran. The UN official also demanded Iran to respect the maritime law and avoid blocking international trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Ban Ki-moon said that Finland plans to hold an international conference on forming a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East in the second half of 2012, as was decided at a conference of members of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
