Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that his country, under the supervision of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, is ready to transfer its nuclear expertise to its neighboring countries.

Mottaki, making the remarks at the 17th International Gulf Conference, stressed that such cooperation would be under full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He added that Iran hopes the leaders of the neighboring countries would pay necessary attention to Iran's right to take advantage of the nuclear energy.

A demand for peaceful nuclear technology by the oil-rich Arab Gulf countries would help dispel U.S. allegations that Iran is secretly aiming to develop nuclear weapons, Mottaki said.

The United States and some other Western countries have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civilian nuclear programs. Iran denies the claim, saying its program is for peaceful purpose only.

The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, which groups Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, has announced that it is interested in developing peaceful nuclear programs.

Source: Xinhua