TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Tuesday it welcomed a U.S. intelligence report that contradicted assertions by the Bush administration that Tehran was intent on building an atomic bomb and said it was becoming clear Iran's plans were peaceful.
The U.S. National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report released on Monday said Iran had put its bid to build a nuclear bomb on hold in 2003. Tehran insists it has never had plans to build atomic weapons.
The U.S. report could undermine U.S. efforts to convince other world powers to agree on a third package of U.N. sanctions against Iran for defying demands to halt uranium enrichment, a process that has both civilian and military applications.
Asked about the U.S. report, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told state radio: "It's natural that we welcome it when those countries who in the past have questions and ambiguities about this case ... now amend their views realistically."
"The condition of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities is becoming clear to the world."
Tensions have escalated in recent months as Washington has ratcheted up the rhetoric against Tehran. U.S. President George W. Bush said in October that a nuclear-armed Iran could lead to World War Three.
Two U.N. sanctions resolutions have been passed so far against Iran, unanimously, but after diplomatic wrangling among the five permanent U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain -- plus Germany.
The United States said on Monday it had agreed with China on the basis for more U.N. sanctions.
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