Brasilia, March 5 (IANS) Brazil will maintain trade ties with Iran despite mounting pressure on the Islamic republic from Western countries to give up its nuclear programme, an official said.

Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told reporters Thursday that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already made clear Brazil's position at a meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently.

Amorim, who attended the meeting at the provisional presidential headquarters, said Lula had told Clinton that he would travel to Iran and the Middle East next week.

After that trip, Lula will talk to world leaders to find a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue, Prensa Latina reported, citing the minister.

The US and other countries want new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme. Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but Western countries believe Tehran is trying to produce atomic bombs in the garb of its civilian nuclear programme.

Brazil says sanctions are counter-productive, as past actions, like in the case of Iraq, had proved futile.

Amorim said Brazil's position on Iran's nuclear issue is clear and the country would not give in to US pressure.

'We think with our own head. We want a world without nuclear weapons, with no proliferation at all,' he said, adding Brazil fears that new sanctions against Iran might turn counter-productive.

Amorim said the issue is complex, but Brazil considers there is room for dialogue, before levying new sanctions.