KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia wants Iran to help tackle rising oil prices for the benefit of the Group of Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D-8), Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said.

He said no effort was made to approach oil-producing countries on the matter and felt that D-8 countries should do so.

"The D-8 members should make a united stand to forward their views on the issue to the OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference) and Opec (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) after the meeting here.

"Since Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will attend the summit, we can ask what Iran, as one of the world's leading oil-producing countries with 7.5 million barrels a day, is willing to do," he said after the launch of the D-8 International Media Centre.

When Iran was prepared to give its views, Rais said, member countries should appreciate them.
"If it can benefit D-8 members, for instance, pertaining to the production of electricity using nuclear power, we will support it," said Rais, adding that the United States "needed to learn" that not everything about nuclear was bad.

Among the expected top issues at the summit, which begins today, is renewable energy, food security and oil prices.

Except for Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey, five leaders of the D-8 countries will gather here for the Sixth D-8 Summit on Tuesday. -- Bernama