TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran's powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani voiced hope on Friday that a rational and logical atmosphere could be created to solve the Iranian nuclear issue, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "We hope that rationality and logic would replace a tendency towards monopoly, pride and discrimination in the examination of Iran's nuclear case," Rafsanjani was quoted as saying.

    Rafsanjani, who is currently chairman of Iran's Expediency Council, said that no wise person would treat a civilized and strong country which enjoys strong public support and has repeatedly proven itself in many cases of harsh situations like this.

    "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the European Union (EU) and the United States should know that Iran will never forsake its right for conducting nuclear activities," Rafsanjani reiterated.

    "The IAEA was duty bound to transfer nuclear technology to all countries, and the Iranian nation, too, should be able to manipulate nuclear technology," he stressed.

    As to the IAEA's recent request of "more transparency," Rafsanjani said that Iran had showed transparency of high degree during the cooperation with the agency.

    "Iran let the IAEA inspectors be present in all stages of uranium enrichment process though it was quite aware that the inspectors could not legally demand inspections from a number of its sites," he said.

    The EU, the broker of the Iranian nuclear issue, has been endeavoring to encourage Iran to halt its activities on the construction of nuclear reactors in exchange for a wholesale of economic and technological incentives.

    Washington has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons secretly, urging to refer the country's case to the UN Security Council.

    However, the United States recently softened its stance and showed interest in supporting the EU diplomatic efforts.

    The IAEA Board of Governors' meeting on Thursday called on Iran to do more in the cooperation with the agency. Enditem