Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday called for return of Iran's nuclear case to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Since both the world and the IAEA have become confident of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program, it is time for returning Iran's nuclear case to the agency through a brave and logical decision," Mottaki said.

The Iranian foreign minister made the remark in a meeting with the visiting head of foreign relations commission of the Turkish parliament Murat Mercan.

"Iran's success in the area of peaceful nuclear program is indebted to the country's rightful stand and resistance," he added.

The United States has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, which Iran has denied. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

The UN Security Council has adopted two resolutions - one in December 2006 and the other in March this year - to force Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and to give up its nuclear program.

As Tehran remains defiant, Washington and its allies have been pressuring the UN Security Council to impose a new round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

(Xinhua News Agency December 26, 2007)