"We're not in a position to get into verifying the validity of that report," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters as US President George W. Bush traveled here on his way to an Asia-Pacific summit in Santiago.

An Iranian opposition group, the National Council for Resistance in Iran, alleged this week that Iran is hiding a uranium enrichment facility and aims to get the atomic bomb next year. Tehran has denied the charge.

"We're aware of those reports," McClellan said, adding: "That is an organization that we include on our terrorist list. And so it's not an organization that we have any contacts with."

"All the reports of that nature are things that the International Atomic Energy Agency should look at as part of their investigation into Iran's nuclear program," the spokesman said, referring to the UN nuclear watchdog.

McClellan also called on Iran to "follow through" on a deal with Britain, France and Germany to suspend sensitive nuclear activities in order to ease fears that it is seeking atomic weapons, and to cooperate with the IAEA.

"We expect Iran to cooperate fully with the IAEA. They've spent quite a bit of time over the years hiding their program and their intentions," said McClellan.

"They need to fully comply with the IAEA and their inspections. They need to suspend their enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. And they need to ratify and adhere to the additional protocol, as well," he said.

"That's the way to give everybody confidence that they're not pursuing a nuclear weapon," said McClellan.

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