MASHHAD, Khorassan Razavi Province (IRNA) -- A member of the Iranian parliament said here Saturday that the statement of support issued by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the IAEA Board of Governors' latest session is a "crucial step" toward success in Iran’s efforts to access nuclear technology.

The Majlis deputy from the northeastern city of Torbat-e Heidariyeh, Mohammad-Nasser Tavassolizadeh, was speaking to IRNA.

"The statement of the 116 member states of NAM in support of Iran's right to access nuclear technology effectively negates rumors of the West having achieved a consensus against Iran," he said.

He said Tehran's active and rational diplomacy has been the main reason for the support by NAM. "Positive signs of Iran's active foreign policy in the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Middle East and Asian states have surfaced in recent months as shown in this support."

The MP further said that NAM states did not voice support for Iran during the previous sessions of the Board of Governors because the efforts of Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani and President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's participation in the NAM summit in Malaysia last month were "very constructive" in this regard.

Another important factor that made NAM states issue the statement was the fact that they knew they would benefit from Iran's nuclear potentials in the near future. "They know that nuclear technology plays a role in maintaining their independence."

Tavassolizadeh said NAM's support for Iran, as an independent state, will benefit the future interests of other member states.

"Iran's unique position in international developments, its resistance to international efforts to deprive it from its nuclear rights and the country's active diplomacy have effectively led to Europe's change of stance toward the issue," the MP said.

Referring to the support of two powerful members of the United Nations Security Council -- Russia and China -- for the country's peaceful nuclear program, the MP said any obstinacy with regard to the issue on the part of Europe or the U.S. which is continuing its disinformation to gather support against Iran will be thwarted by the two states.

He said that with the NAM statement, the European Union will show more flexibility and take a more positive stand in Iran's favor with respect to the nuclear dispute. He stressed the importance of cementing national unity and coherence on the nuclear issue, saying experience has shown that "consensus and confidence at all levels and effective performance of the government have been the important reasons behind Iran's victory on various issues."