OIC chief to discuss diplomatic exit for Iran row

RIYADH, May 28 (Reuters) The head of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will travel to Iran to offer its assistance in the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme, OIC said today.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu plans to visit Tehran on Wednesday to ''discuss a possible role for the OIC in defusing the current nuclear row'', an OIC statement said.

''OIC favours a diplomatic solution in the controversy regarding Iran's nuclear programme and ... Ihsanoglu is expected during his visit to explore this possibility,'' said OIC, which is based in the Saudi Red Sea port of Jeddah.

OIC backs ''every country's inalienable right to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes, that there should be no double standards ... to peaceful uses of nuclear technology and that the region should be free of nuclear weapons,'' it said.

''It is also against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,'' it added.

The United Nations has demanded that Iran halt enrichment activities, which the West says is a cover for developing atomic bombs. Iran has refused, insisting it only wants to make fuel for nuclear power stations.

OIC groups 57 countries with a significant proportion of Muslims.

France, Germany and Britain, acting on behalf of the European Union, negotiated a suspension of Iran's nuclear enrichment in 2003 but that deal broke down in August 2005. The so-called EU3 then called off further talks in January 2006.

Russia has offered to enrich uranium on its soil for Iranian power plants but Iran, which has yet to start up its first atomic reactor, says it wants some enrichment at home.

With US backing, the European powers are drawing up a list of incentives and penalties for Iran to convince Tehran to stop its sensitive nuclear work. Iran has so far said no incentives will convince it to give up what it calls its national right.

REUTERS CH PM2235