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Sout h Africa is trying to help resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme through separate discussions with the Iranian foreign minister and the United States' ambassador to the International Atomic Energy. Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motakki met Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Pretoria on Monday. He thanked South Africa for its continuous support for Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Motakki's visit comes a day before Iran is to announce what it called a "multi-faceted response" to an offer of incentives from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany if Iran stop enriching uranium. It is feared the enriched uranium may be used to build a nuclear bomb. Iran's response will come just days before a UN Security Council deadline - for Iran to respond to the offer or face economic and diplomatic sanctions - expires at the end of the month. "We hope there is some co-operation and negotiations respecting the right of Iran to have nuclear technology and remove any questions," Motakki said. South Africa has consistently said that Iran had the "inalienable" right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. During the meeting on Monday Dlamini-Zuma said she hoped the matter could be resolved as soon as possible.

"We urge all parties to avoid confrontation and resume negotiations," she said in opening remarks before the binational commission met.

Motakki was officially in South Africa for the Iran-South Africa bilateral commission, but he may also meet President Thabo Mbeki to discuss the nuclear issue.

In the meantime, the US ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Greg Schulte, is expected in South Africa later in the week.

Schulte would meet South Africa's representative to the IAEA Abdul Minty, and make public appearances to speak about Iran's nuclear programme and possible UN action against Iran. Minty is also a member of the IAEA's governing board.

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