Iran's president declared victory over the United States yesterday after a US intelligence report contradicting the Bush administration's charges that Teheran was actively seeking a nuclear weapon.

The report appeared likely to increase resistance from Russia and China to US demands for further United Nations sanctions against Iran. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said its findings would be a factor in deciding on sanctions.

China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters on Tuesday: "I think the council members will have to consider that, because I think we all start from the presumption that now things have changed."