Turkey is ready to offer assistance to six world powers negotiating with Iran over its controversial nuclear program to find a diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue, the Turkish foreign minister said on Sunday.

"We believe that a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue is achievable and necessary. Given the already volatile situation in the region, diplomacy is the only viable avenue for a solution," Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted by the UAE-based newspaper Gulf News as saying.

The Iran Six comprising Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States have been trying to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment for economic and diplomatic incentives.

Davutoglu said Iran had the right to peaceful nuclear energy but under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, adding that Turkey "will be ready to assume an active role if needed in order to facilitate a diplomatic solution".

Turkey, a neutral country in the long-running international nuclear dispute with Iran, has agreed to store Iranian uranium as an alternative to an UN-brokered deal rejected by Tehran on Wednesday.

Iran has not yet responded to Turkey's offer.

Under the compromise proposed by the international negotiators, Iran was to ship its low-enriched uranium to Russia and France for further enrichment and processing into fuel for power plants. Iran would not thereby be able to enrich uranium to make weapons.

The United States and other Western powers have demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment, fearing it seeks to build nuclear weapons. Tehran insists that it needs nuclear technology only to generate electricity.

DUBAI, November 22 (RIA Novosti)