Russia and Iran agreed a solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program should be sought within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the two countries' foreign ministers said Monday.

"Of course, we discussed the Iranian nuclear problem and our common position is that all remaining questions should be settled through the IAEA," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his Iranian counterpart, Manuchehr Motaki, according to the Interfax news agency.

Lavrov called for an acceptable solution that would secure Iran 's right to access to peaceful nuclear energy.

"We agreed to continue contact on the issue to promote its solution in cooperation with other countries, in the first place with the European troika," Lavrov said, referring to Germany, France and Britain which have represented the European Union (EU) in the talks with Iran aimed at persuading Tehran to scrap uranium enrichment.

The talks collapsed after Iran ended a freeze on uranium conversion in August. The EU trio have warned of hauling Iran before the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

Motaki, for his part, warned Iran will not back down if its nuclear dossier is referred to the UN Security Council.

"Rather, it will insist on being able to exercise its legitimate rights," Motaki said.

Should Iran be referred to the Security Council, Tehran may refuse to fulfill obligations set in the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Motaki said.

Developing Iran's nuclear energy sector is "the people's will," he said.

The United States accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Iran, however, says its nuclear program is dedicated exclusively to power generation.

Source: Xinhua