HAVANA, Jan. 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro has expressed his support for Iran's nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

    "Iran, like any nation, has the right to produce atomic energy for peaceful purposes, and to have access to modern technology for this aim," Thursday's Granma daily quoted Castro as saying on Wednesday.

    Castro was speaking to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a telephone conversation, said the paper.

    Ahmadinejad, who initiated the phone call, thanked Cuba for its support for Iran's peaceful nuclear program and spoke of Cuba's resistance to what he described as the United States arrogance.

    The United States is leading a group of nations to try to stop Iran's nuclear program, citing the possibility of using it to develop weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly rejected.

    Ahmadinejad also said he was pleased that Cuba would host the next meeting of the non-aligned nations and that Iran was ready to help with the preparations.

    Iran wants to work with all people's governments, especially those of South America, Ahmadinejad said.

    The Iranian president also called newly-elected Bolivian President Evo Morales, who is currently visiting Spain, to congratulate him on his Dec. 18 election victory, said the paper. Enditem