The "involvement of countries that have influence in the region is absolutely essential," Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said during a conference organized by the United Nations in Rio.

"Iran is an essential player," he said.

The top Brazilian diplomat said he believed one of the reasons that successive peace plans for the region have failed is that "the players have always been the same."

Brazil, which is hoping to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, has said it would be able to act as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians because it has "the confidence" of both parties.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in Peru on Monday, stopped in Brazil last week at the beginning of a Latin American tour intended to counter Iran's perceived growing influence in the region.

In Brazil, he sought support for pressure on Iran to stop its controversial nuclear program.

But the Latin American powerhouse has growing ties with Iran, and is set to receive Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on a state visit before the end of the year, despite controversy surrounding his reelection.

The Iranian president recently praised his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his "courage" in quickly offering Ahmadinejad congratulations on his reelection, despite the major street protests against the result that broke out after the contested June 12 vote.

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