KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and five of their large neighbors endorsed the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and six world powers, New York Times reported.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the ASEAN countries along with Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea welcomed the deal with Iran struck last month as an ""important resolution"" that could resolve one of the world's most pressing concerns if it is adhered to. The statement was issued on the final day of a Southeast Asian regional security forum in Malaysia.

If the deal is fully implemented ""the international community will be able to resolve this significant international security challenge, and to do so peacefully,"" said the statement. It said the deal would ""ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program"".

ASEAN includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Also signing the statement were China, Russia and the United States, which were involved in negotiating the agreement with Iran.

The public display of Asian support for the deal comes as President Barack Obama tries to convince skeptical U.S. lawmakers to back the accord, which would place curbs on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.