(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-11 22:32

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that a recent US intelligence report on Iran's nuclear case was a "step forward."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad greets journalists before the start of a news conference in Tehran December 11, 2007. [Agencies]

"It is positive and a step forward. And if more such steps are taken, the prospects of Iran-US relations would be open and positive," Ahmadinejad told a news conference in Tehran.

"But let us not make any hurry judgment. Let them (the Americans) take more steps," Ahmadinejad said. "One of the steps they need to take is a major change in the regional situation."

The Iranian president said that regional nations "have rights and want to fully use their rights."

"Respecting these rights is a serious change in strategy and this is the next step," he added.

The US National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which came out early this month, found out that Iran stopped an effort to develop nuclear weapons in the fall of 2003, but it continued to enrich uranium.

The latest report also said that Iran could reverse that decision and eventually produce a nuclear weapon if it wants to do so.

Ahmadinejad also warned Western countries against basing their actions on "baseless" allegations and pressing for a new UN Security Council resolution that will impose more sanctions on Tehran.

If such a resolution is passed, "they will witness the same thing they see today," Ahmadinejad said. "Iran is strong enough not to be hurt by such sanctions."

A draft UN Security Council resolution for new sanctions against Iran has been circulated among the world's major powers. Diplomats from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are to discuss the draft plan later on Tuesday.

The United States and some other Western countries have been alleged that Iran may try to develop atomic bombs under a civilian cover. But Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Two rounds of UN Security Council sanctions have already been imposed on Iran for failing to heed a UN demand that it halted uranium enrichment.