Iran on Thursday denounced a senior US official's remarks on its nuclear program as "arrogant bullying," the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Such comments provide sufficient proof that the US authorities still believe that they can achieve their objectives through arrogant bullying," IRNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi as saying.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Bolton said Tuesday the United States would step up its effort to prevent nuclear technology reaching Iran, which is accused by Washington of using the atomic energy program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons.

"Such an attitude by US statesmen is the biggest threat against global peace and security," and the US policy would only backfire, the spokesman said.

"The United States has thus contributed to its own segregation from the international community, and global society needs to figure out a way to counter effectively the threats posed by the American bullying," he said.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran's nuclear programs are aimed at making peaceful use of atomic power, and that proves the Islamic Republic of Iran respects its international commitments," Asefi said.

The United States was merely "seeking excuses to weaken international bodies," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)