UN Chief Ban Ki-moon pushes for diplomatic solution to Iran issue

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged a diplomatic and not a military solution to address the issue of Iran''s nuclear programme. A spokesman for the Secretary-General Martin Nesirky said, "Ban Ki-moon reiterates his call for Iran''s compliance with all relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The secretary-general reiterates his belief that a negotiated rather than a military solution is the only way to resolve this issue." Ban''s position is that "the onus is on Iran to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme," Nesirky said. In Washington, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, Washington is consulting with its partners and allies regarding Iran. "What I would say is that we''re consulting with our partners and allies. The conclusions that the report draws are alarming and they reinforce what we''ve been saying about Iranian behavior," Carney told reporters. The US and Israel have refused to rule out any option to prevent the Iran from acquiring a nuclear arsenal.