Malaysia's Syed Hamid Albar said Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazzi made the pledge in discussions after arriving for a two-day visit to Malaysia, which holds the chair of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

"We discussed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Malaysia's position is clear: I told him Malaysia wants to see the abolition of nuclear weapons," Syed Hamid told a news conference.

"He (Kharazzi) gave the assurance that their programme is for peaceful purposes, that it is not aimed towards making weapons of mass destruction.

"What is more important, he said Iran was willing to have a mechanism to ensure it will not use its nuclear expertise to produce nuclear weapons."

Syed Hamid did not elaborate and Kharazzi did not attend the press conference.

Britain, France and Germany struck an agreement with Iran in November to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities in return for talks on trade, security and technology. The Iran-EU talks are to resume Tuesday in Geneva, according to diplomats.

The EU is demanding that Tehran totally dismantle its nuclear fuel programme, including enrichment, to guarantee that it is not seeking atomic weapons.

Enrichment can make fuel for nuclear reactors as well as the explosive core of atomic bombs.

Provided the purpose is peaceful, the fuel cycle is authorised by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty -- a right that Iran stands by but which critics see as a dangerous loophole in the treaty.

Syed Hamid said Kharazzi had told him Iran "does not want other countries to deny Iran its right to have the ability and knowledge in the nuclear enrichment field.

"Malaysia believes as long as countries comply with the NPT protocols and have safeguards to prevent moving towards nuclear arms production, that is satisfactory.

"Iran cannot be overdependent on any one country or any one source of energy, so that is why it is building up its nuclear programme for energy needs," Syed Hamid said.

"We do not have any problems if the use is for the purpose of peace and to provide energy. We believe there should not be discrimination between developing countries and developed countries," Syed Hamid said.

Kharazzi, who is leading an eight-member delegation of officials, also held talks with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, current chairman of the OIC of which Iran is a member.

The Iranian foreign minister leaves for Japan on Tuesday.