Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said here on Saturday that Islamic nations had the right to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

Larijani, also secretary general of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks upon his arrival in Cairo for a two-day visit to Egypt.

"The question of peaceful nuclear energy is an international matter of great concern to the Islamic world, with Iran increasingly becoming the focus of attention," Egypt's MENA news agency quoted the Iranian official as saying.

According to MENA, Larijani met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and is expected to meet with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa on Sunday.

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the Abul Gheit- Larijani meeting dealt with the latest developments of Iran's nuclear issue in light of a package proposed by six countries.

The spokesman said that the two officials will hold another session on Sunday to continue their discussions.

The package was proposed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany on June 3.

Moussa said on Saturday that the entire Middle East region must be free from any weapons of mass destruction, and this applies to Iran, Israel or any other state in the region.

Source: Xinhua