Tehran - Tehran said the remarks by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Iran's nuclear work were "full of contradictions," local media reported Wednesday.

Brown on Tuesday described Iran as a "test case" of a country which had the "right to develop nuclear power" while being made fully aware that the development of atomic weapons was "unacceptable."

"We have to create a new international system to help non-nuclear states acquire the new sources of energy they need," said Brown.

But he added that if Iran failed to comply with international demands to renounce its nuclear weapons programme, tougher international sanctions would follow.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said all nuclear activities in Iran were for peaceful purposes and under supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and any claim that Iran posed a threat to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was "fully baseless."

Ghashghavi added that Iran was ready for talks but reiterated that they should be fair and mutually respectful, without pre-conditions and without threats of further sanctions.

Iran says that as a signatory to international conventions, it has the right to pursue nuclear technology, including the controversial uranium enrichment process, without censure from any other country.

Tehran has therefore rejected three UN Security Council resolutions demanding suspension of its enrichment work, despite sanctions.

The West however fears that Iran would use the same process for enriching uranium at a higher level for producing weapons, which would threaten its arch-enemy Israel. (dpa)