MOSCOW, June 2: The United States is using concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme as a cover to further its aim of overthrowing the government in Tehran, Russian political experts said on Monday.

While acknowledging the importance of strict international controls over Iranian nuclear facilities, analysts in Moscow believe that Iran has become the next target for “regime change” after Iraq.

“The United States main aim is to get rid of the Islamic regime in Iran. All other reasons — its nuclear programme, alleged support for terrorist groups — are secondary to that,” Nina Mamedova, head of the Iranian department at the Institute of Eastern Studies, said at a press conference.

Her colleague Vladimir Sazhin, a professor at the institute, added: “After ousting the Saddam government, the United States has one main target in its sights, Iran. It is a thorn in the side of the White House.”

The United States has been putting increasing pressure on Moscow to halt its nuclear cooperation with Tehran, in particular its construction of the first Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran.

The real US agenda is an ambitious strategy to remake the Middle East by introducing democratic and US-friendly governments in the region, according to Alexei Malashenko, from the Moscow branch of the Washington-based Carnegie think tank.

“The United States has set itself the task of changing the Islamic world, introducing modernization,” the expert said. “Condoleeza Rice has said that they would like to force the Islamic regime (in Iran) out.”

US national security adviser Condoleezza Rice told Saturday’s Financial Times that the White House wanted to see an elected government in Tehran which met the demands of the Iranian people for “a regime which protects the rights of women, which is forward looking and modern”.

The accusation that Iran is sheltering members of the Al Qaeda network does not stand up to scrutiny, Mr Malashenko said.

“Iran today does not support terrorism. Claims about Iran supporting al-Qaeda require proof,” he said.—AFP