"The United States should take lessons from its past mistakes and adopt a more responsible attitude and have a more multilateral approach towards the world issues," Seyed Mohammad Hossein Adeli told BBC radio.

"Waging war against Muslims and ignoring its allies, including the Europeans, created tensions, instability, a less secure world and created an ocean of mistrust between the United States and the rest of the world.

"So they would like to continue launching a war against the Muslim world and others? I don't think this would do good to the American image and to the American cause," he said.

The comments come as Washington ratcheted up rhetoric against the Islamic regime over its controversial nuclear program.

On Monday President George W. Bush said he could not rule out resorting to military action if the United States failed to persuade Iran to abandon the program, which Washington charges is a cover for developing the atomic bomb.

Tehran maintains its nuclear program is directed at generating electricity.

"The Americains unfortunately are continuing to do false accusations on Iran," Adeli said, stressing that the diplomatic route, rather than a US hardline, was leading to effective negotiations.

The diplomat said Tehran had the right to develop nuclear technologies.

"Every nation is entitled to have sophisticated technologies. We have respected all of our international commitments. Therefore there is no reason why we should not have it," he said.

He admitted had been "irregularities in the past" in Iran's compliance with the nuclear watchdog IAEA, but added that now "we have committed ourselves to cooperation with them".

The International Atomic Energy Agency has been investigating Iran for two years. IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei has said there is no proof that Iran is hiding weapons work but that "the jury is still out."

Iran has suspended its sensitive work on the nuclear fuel cycle while talks with Britain, France and Germany are in progress.

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