Pakistan opposesd "coercive measures" against Iran

Pakistan opposes "coercive measures" against Iran over its nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry official said Monday.

A top Iranian nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, is expected to arrive in the next few days to tell Pakistan about Tehran's discussions with the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Pakistan's The Nation newspaper reported Monday that Larijani's visit was aimed at seeking support over possible sanctions.

The EU has threatened to call for U.N. sanctions if Iran does not halt uranium enrichment by Sept. 19, when the IAEA board of governors is scheduled to meet.

Asked if Pakistan would support sanctions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammed Naeem Khan said: "We are against coercive measures. Any solution should take into account international rights and obligations of all parties."

The United States suspects that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. Iran says the program is aimed at electricity generation and vowed Sunday to continue uranium reprocessing.

On photo: Mohammed Naeem Khan.