"Nobody can deny the right of Iran to use nuclear technology for civil purposes. Iran is a powerful country ... and one cannot use the language of violence with a powerful country," he told Iranian state television.

"We have to find a solution where our right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes is respected and at the same time where worries are removed," said the minister, on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

"If people want to resolve this problem, the solution is a dialogue that recognises our right and that removes worries," said Kharazi, who met his British, French and Spanish counterparts.

"We do not want to build an atomic bomb, which is why inspectors are visiting our facilities."

In a resolution passed on Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency called on Iran to halt its controversial uranium enrichment-related activities, a part of the nuclear fuel cycle that can be directed to both energy and weapons purposes.

Nuclear fuel cycle work, including enrichment, is permitted under the Non-Proliferation Treaty if it is for peaceful purposes, but the IAEA wants such activities stopped pending the completion of its more than 18-month-old investigation.

Iran suspended enrichment itself last year, but has continued to advance on other parts of the fuel cycle.

The resolution from the board of the UN nuclear watchdog also gives Iran until November 25 to clear up suspicions over its activities. Failure to do so could see the country referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions -- something the United States has been pushing for.