Brazil has reaffirmed its support for Iran's right to a civilian¹ nuclear programme, but called for a "just and balanced" solution with the West.

巴西重申了对伊朗建设民用核设施权利的支持，但是呼吁伊朗与西方国家采取“公正、平衡”的解决方式。

President Ahmadinejad's visit has been criticised by Israel

During a visit to Brazil by the Iranian president, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised attempts to isolate² Iran over its nuclear ambitions（雄心，抱负）.

But he also urged Mahmoud Ahmandinejad to engage with the West.

Western powers fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons technology, rather than civilian uses as it claims.

It is the first visit by an Iranian president to Brazil, which maintains close ties to the US, Israel and other countries trying to block Iran's nuclear ambitions.

But Brazilian President Lula said he opposes further sanctions on Iran, and called for diplomacy³ instead.

"We recognise Iran's right to develop a peaceful nuclear programme in compliance⁴ with（顺从，遵从） international accords（调和，协议）.

"I encourage you to continue engaging interested countries to seek a just and balanced solution on the Iranian nuclear issue," he said to Mr Ahmadinejad at a press conference.

Iran reticence⁵

Iran has yet to respond to a plan brokered⁶（作为中间人安排的） by the International Atomic Energy Agency, and agreed by Russia, the US and France last month.

Under the plan most of Iran's enriched uranium would be sent abroad to be turned into fuel rods（燃料棒） for research use.

This is seen as a way for Iran to get the fuel it needs, while giving guarantees to the West that it will not be used for nuclear weapons.

Mr Ahmadinejad's visit to Brazil has already drawn⁷ criticism from Israel and members of the US Congress.

US State Department spokesman Robert Wood declined to comment on the meeting, but before the event, he said he hoped Brazil would raise some of the US concerns with the Iranian leader.

New York congressman⁸ Eliot Engel said President Lula was making "a serious error" by "lending legitimacy（合法，适当）" to Mr Ahmadinejad.

Israel too called it a "mistake" for Brazil to host him, AFP reports.

Since coming to power in 2005, Mr Ahmadinejad has sought to build ties with leftist south American leaders.

His five-nation tour also takes him to Venezuela（委内瑞拉） and Bolivia（玻利维亚）, with stops in the West African countries of Senegal and Gambia on the way home.