CARACAS, Feb. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuela attributed on Monday the United States' pressure on Iranian nuclear issue to its intention to dominate nuclear fuel production for fear of an exhaustion of the world's oil supplies.

    The intention to dominate nuclear fuel production was the reason for the U.S. pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear energy program, said Gustavo Marquez, Venezuelan State Minister for Integration and Foreign Trade.

    The minister said that all countries have the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful use, and that apart from weapons and energy, nuclear technology can be used for medicine, agricultural and industrial purposes including oil exploration.

    Marquez criticized the decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council, saying the move was made before the publication of an inspectors' report, which has to decide if Iran's nuclear program can make weapons.

    Venezuela would not support nuclear weapons manufacturing in Iran or in any other country, because of the call for peace prescribed in its constitution, Marquez said. Enditem