MUNICH, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Saturday called for diplomatic means to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program.

    Rumsfeld made the call at the annual security policy conference, which was opened in the southern German city of Munich on Friday night.

    "The world does not want - and must work together to prevent - a nuclear Iran," Rumsfeld said at the conference.

    "We must continue to work together to seek a diplomatic solution to stopping the development of its uranium enrichment program," he added.

    The U.S. defense chief, who is well-know for his belligerent attitude, made a verbal attack on Iran's government, saying: "The Iranian regime is today the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."

    He also urged the U.S. allies to invest more in NATO so as to fight terrorism.

    One of the tasks facing the West, Rumsfeld said, is "to continue to transform NATO for the 21st Century, invest in the NATO Response Force, broader common funding, and encourage NATO to develop an expeditionary culture and capability."

    "This commitment cannot be done on the cheap. It may be easier for all of us to use our scarce tax dollars to meet urgent needs we all have at home," he noted.

    "But unless we invest in our defense and security, our homelands will be at risk," he added.

    In a related development, the extraordinary meeting of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) Board of Governors adopted in Vienna on Saturday a resolution to report Iran's nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council.

    Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is designed to meet rising domestic demand for electricity and that it is fully peaceful. Iran also threatened to end cooperation with IAEA if referred to the council.

    Rumsfeld and German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened the second day of the 42nd annual Munich security conference, a gathering that defense experts and policy-makers traditionally use for frank exchanges. Enditem