TEHRAN - Iran on Monday accused the US Central Intelligence Agency of waging "psychological warfare" against it, saying the CIA knows the Islamic republic`s nuclear programme has no military aims.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast dismissed CIA director Leon Panetta`s remarks that Iran could have nuclear weapons prepared and ready to deliver by as early as 2012, saying that US intelligence knew Iran`s nuclear programme was peaceful.

"Such remarks fall within the framework of psychological warfare aimed at creating a negative perception about Iran`s peaceful nuclear activities," Mehmanparast said, referring to Panetta`s comments made on Sunday.

"The American officials, especially their intelligence apparatus, know that Iran`s nuclear programme is in no way a military one but is aimed at peaceful purposes," he told the state news agency IRNA.

BDST: 1614 HRS, June 28, 2010
DC