MOSCOW, May 28: Russia on Wednesday again brushed off US objections over its nuclear cooperation with Iran as Washington appeared poised to toughen its policy towards the Islamic republic.

Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said the US accusations that Russian nuclear technology was being used to develop nuclear weapons in Iran were groundless and warned the White House against provoking a confrontation with Tehran.

“We have spoken about the fact that there cannot be any objections (over the cooperation) with US representatives and those of other countries who expressed their concern on this matter,” Ivanov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

The Russian foreign minister said that Moscow, which is building Iran’s first nuclear power station in Bushehr, was working under the supervision of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Russia is cooperating in this field with Iran strictly within a civilian programme and under the control of the IAEA. We oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear,” he added.

Russia’s controversial nuclear cooperation with Iran has become a major irritant ahead of a key summit in Saint Petersburg between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart George W. Bush on Sunday.

On Tuesday, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the United States believes Iran had done too little to sever ties to terrorist groups — including Al Qaeda — and forsake nuclear weapons programmes.

Washington, which has branded Iran together with Iraq and North Korea as part of an “axis of evil” of nuclear rogue nations, accuses Tehran of developing nuclear power stations as a mask for a weapons programme that would be illicit under the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Iran has also been accused of sheltering top Al Qaeda members Washington accuses of links to suicide bombings in Riyadh that killed 34 people on May 12.

Ivanov urged Washington to avoid a confrontation with Tehran, which he said “is in no one’s interests.”

Russia believes that these kinds of problems need to be resolved through diplomatic means without provoking worsening tensions, the Russian foreign minister said.

“This applies to the Korean peninsula and in this case to the situation surrounding Iran,” he added. Washington has rejected North Korean terms to end a nuclear standoff brewing with the Stalinist state since October.

Top aides to President George W. Bush were expected to meet Thursday to review US policy towards Iran after the war to oust Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq.

Ivanov rounded on US officials who have demanded that Russia stop all nuclear cooperation with Iran.

“There cannot be any objections here with regard to Russia. It is not helpful to make unsubstantiated allegations, especially in the form of an ultimatum,” the top Russian diplomat said.

In a nod to US concerns, however, Ivanov stressed the importance of Iran offering unconditional access to the IAEA.

“This would ensure that no one will have any concerns about these programmes,” he said.

Iran has refused to sign a new protocol with the IAEA that would oblige it to allow more inspections and extensive monitoring of its nuclear sites.—AFP