Lula welcomes Ahmadinejad, urges West to work with Iran

Brasilia: Iran's leader has received a welcoming bear hug from the Brazilian president, who urged Western nations to drop threats of punishment over the Iranian nuclear program and instead negotiate a fair solution.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who also called for diplomacy to push for peace in the Middle East and ease tensions between Iran, the US and other nations, again defended Iran's right to have a peaceful nuclear program.

Commenting after talking privately for three hours Monday with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Silva also said Iran should negotiate with the West to find a "just and balanced" solution to concerns over its nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad made no promises and said Iran would try to improve its uranium-enrichment technology if it can't buy enriched uranium abroad.