In a statement released by Pretoria after a meeting between the Non-Aligned Movement troika and Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on Friday, the NAM reiterated its "principled position concerning... the peaceful uses of nuclear energy".

"These include in particular reaffirming the basic and inalienable right... to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, without any discrimination and in conformity with their safeguards agreements in connection with the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty)," it said.

The statement comes ahead of a crunch meeting Thursday of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.