Iran insists it has no plans to build nuclear weapons

Iran today reiterated it has no plans to build nuclear weapons, after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tehran that any pursuit of atomic arms was futile.

"We are a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and it is our right to have peaceful nuclear activities. Nuclear weapons have no place in our defence structure," foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said.

His remarks came a day after Clinton issued the warning to Tehran but acknowledged that Washington was prepared to engage with whichever regime is in power in the Islamic republic.

Washington and other global powers suspect Iran's nuclear drive is aimed at making nuclear weapons, a charge vehemently denied by Tehran.

Ghashghavi also said that Iran is preparing its package to be presented to the global powers in a bid to address the outstanding issues.

"We are preparing it. It should be comprehensive and updated... And so it requires a longer time," he said.