Iranian and Omani leaders stressed on Thursday that all countries should have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear power in compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the charter of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said reports from the Omani capital Muscat.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Omani Sultan Qaboos Ben Saied made the call in their joint communique released when Khatami wrapped up his two-day visit to the Middle East country.

The two leaders slashed Israel for refusing to accept the IAEA's supervision over its nuclear facilities. They noted nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction should be banned completely in the Middle East to end arms race and confrontation there.

On the Iraqi issue, Khatami and Sultan Qaboos reiterated their consistent positions, saying the United Nations should play a leading role in Iraq, and Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be maintained. They hope the general elections will be held as scheduled in the war-ravaged country.

While criticizing Israel's violence against the Palestinians, the leaders called on the international community to press Israel to abide by the concerned resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Khatami arrived in Muscat on Wednesday for a two-day official visit, the first by an Iranian president in 34 years.

Source: Xinhua