Iran welcomes US nuclear assessment

Iran seized on America's latest radical reassessment of its nuclear weapons capability today to justify its atomic research programme.

Foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki welcomed the US decision to "correct" its claim that Iran was actively building weapons.

He was referring to the US intelligence assessment released yesterday that reversed earlier claims that Iran had restarted its weapons programme in 2005 after suspending it in 2003.

"It's natural that we welcome ... countries that correct their views realistically which in the past had questions and ambiguities about (Iran's nuclear activities)," Mr Mottaki said.

Several other Iranian officials also praised the new intelligence report, saying it proved Tehran's nuclear programme was peaceful and had "disarmed" hawkish members of President Bush's administration who were pushing for military action against Iran.

"This confession from within the US administration's most sensitive organs is proof ... that (Iran's) nuclear programme is peaceful," senior Iranian politician Alaeddin Boroujerdi said.

The US and some of its allies have consistently accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a claim Iran has denied.