"Intelligence officials believe that the creation of the facility is yet further evidence that Iran is involved in a clandestine programme to build nuclear weapons," The Sunday Telegraph said.

Scientists would be able to take post-graduate courses in nuclear engineering and the production of nuclear materials at the new faculty, which would be attached to the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, the newspaper said, citing western intelligence sources.

The allegation comes despite growing pressure on Iran from the United States and Europe to guarantee that it will not use its atomic energy programme to acquire nuclear weapons.

"If the Iranians were really serious about only developing nuclear technology for peaceful means, there would be no need for a facility like this," a senior western security official told The Sunday Telegraph.

"It suggests that they do not want to share their nuclear expertise with the outside world," the official said.

Tehran claims that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful, but nuclear experts working for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, have found evidence that Iran has been involved in the production of weapons-grade uranium, according to the newspaper.

"The establishment of Iran's first post-graduate nuclear research faculty is seen as evidence that the Iranians are pressing ahead with their secret programme to become self-sufficient in the production of nuclear weapons," it said.

All students taking part in the Iranian nuclear research courses, which will operate as a branch of Tehran University, would be vetted by Iran's security service, the newspaper said.

The main purpose of the complex was to make Iran's nuclear industry completely self-sufficient, it claimed.

At present most Iranian students are required to travel abroad for advanced studies in nuclear technology, where they are kept under strict supervision.

"By making the new facility part of Teheran University, Iranian officials hope that it will not be liable to inspection by IAEA officials," the newspaper said.

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