Iran says US pressure will backfire

Iran warned yesterday that foreign pressure over its nuclear capabilities, branded a threat to peace by Washington, would backfire and harden Iran's position.

Since its rapid conquest of Iraq, Washington has tightened the screw on neighbouring Iran, which it accuses of sheltering al Qaeda fugitives, backing terrorism and developing nuclear arms.

"Excessive pressure on Iran would untie the hands of those who do not believe in dialogue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi. "Even those who favour constructive talks would not accept the language of force and threat."

The United States and European Union are divided over Iran. The EU favours a policy of encouraging embattled reformers around President Mohammad Khatami, while Washington argues this is a waste of time since he has no real power to affect change.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a report obtained by Reuters on Friday, accused Iran of failing to comply with safeguards to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and sent a a team of inspectors to the country on Saturday.

Asefi played down the visit, which comes a week before IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei formally presents his report on Iran's nuclear ambitions to agency governors in Vienna on June 16.

"The visit was planned months ago and has nothing to do with the agency's report," Asefi said. "The visit proves Iran's transparency and close cooperation."

Fresh from war in Iraq over banned weapons, the United States described the report as "deeply troubling".

Since the Iraq war, US administration hawks have raised the spectre of military action against Iran, but President George W. Bush, who put Iran in an "axis of evil" with pre-war Iraq and North Korea, has denied he has plans to attack it.