Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Unite States said on Wednesday that it is not opposing Iran to make use of nuclear energy peacefully, and encourages Iran to solve nuclear issues through its dialogue with five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany.

    "We don't object to Iran possessing peaceful nuclear energy," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told a news briefing.

    But "We do have objections, of course, along with the Security Council and the P-5-plus-1 to their possessing the full fuel cycle," the spokesman added.

    On Turkey's offer to be the mediator between U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and Iran, McCormack suggested that the existing"P-5-plus-1" mechanism will be effective to solve Iran's nuclear problem.

    "There's already a potential process in place for the Iranians, should they choose to accept it. It's the P-5-plus-1 process. It has the backing of the Security Council," he said.

    The so-called P-5-plus-1 refers to five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the U.S., Britain, France, China and Russia, plus Germany.

    "I would suggest that any of Iran's neighbors would have an interest in Iran not having a nuclear weapon -- to use whatever influence they have with Iran to encourage them to take up the offer of the P-5-plus-1," McCormack said.

    The United States and its allies have accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, but Iran insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

    Representatives from the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany have had series of talks over the settlement of disputed Iran's nuclear program.