Russia, which is helping Iran build a nuclear power plant, said Sunday Tehran was violating no international rules by developing two other nuclear sites despite U.S. fears they could be used for military aims. Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev was also quoted as telling Itar-Tass news agency in an interview that efforts should be made to persuade North Korea to ease its tough stand on resuming its nuclear program.

Russia has faced heavy U.S. criticism for helping Iran build a reactor at a nuclear plant at Bushehr but Rumyantsev said Moscow was proceeding with the project. He dismissed as unfounded U.S. suggestions last week that two other facilities under construction could enable Iran to produce nuclear weapons.

He told the agency Iran had never concealed its intention to build a complete nuclear cycle and the facilities "do not violate any commitments" the country had undertaken.

Tehran has denied U.S. assertions that the two sites near the towns of Natanz and Arak were of a type that could be used for making a nuclear weapon. It says it is determined to meet its growing demand for electricity with nuclear power.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said the facilities, seen in commercial satellite photographs, had generated "grave concerns." Washington has labeled Iran as part of an "axis of evil" bent on developing weapons of mass destruction.

But Rumyantsev was quoted as saying: "You cannot assume anything from the published photographs."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had been discussing the sites with Tehran since August, with Iranian authorities agreeing to submit to IAEA monitoring.

Rumyantsev said Russia had no connection with either facility, but predicted that Washington could increase pressure on Moscow to halt its participation in the Bushehr project.

"We have no intention of doing so, as there is no proof that we are committing any violations of any sort," he told Tass.

Rumyantsev's press service told Tass Moscow's continued participation in the Bushehr project was contingent on Iranian assurances that all spent fuel would be returned to Russia -- a demand advanced by U.S. experts.

The press service said it was uncertain whether Russia would pursue plans to build up to five more reactors at the site.

On North Korea, which said this week it intended to restart a nuclear reactor shut down under a 1994 deal with the United States, Rumyantsev said attempts should be made to discuss the matter with Pyongyang's secretive leadership.

"North Korea has taken a specific stand, which has to be understood with efforts made to tone it down," he told Tass.

Russia, he said, had ceased all nuclear cooperation with Pyongyang in 1993 and had no intention of reviving it.

"If North Korea decides to seek our help, this is possible only through the IAEA," he told Tass.

PHOTO CAPTION

A September 16, 2002 satellite image shows facilities in Natanz, Iran believed to be part of a previously unknown segment of Iran's nuclear program. The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Dec. 13 it was aware of new nuclear facilities under construction in Iran, which U.S. officials said could be used to make weapons, and planned to inspect them in February. Photo by Isis, Digitalglobe/Reuters