In his first reaction after the publication of the National Intelligence Estimate, Jalili said the report showed Iran had been right to insist its nuclear programme was peaceful and to refuse to halt sensitive activities.

Asked if the report would improve the conditions for resolving the nuclear standoff, Jalili replied: "Normally it should be this way.

"After the report of (UN nuclear watchdog director general) Mohamed ElBaradei and this report, the justice of the Iranian position has been confirmed," he told reporters at Tehran's international airport.

Jalili had on Friday held a new round of talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in London which failed to break the deadlock and Solana described as disappointing.

The hardliner declined to predict whether the report would make further UN sanctions against Iran less likely but said: "After the ElBaradei report, the Americans have now acknowledged that their accusations against Iran were without foundation. They must answer to global public opinion if, in this climate, they take harder measures."