Iran cleric hopes US learns from Lebanon conflict

The Iranian government has welcomed the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon, calling it a victory for Iran-backed guerrilla group Hizbollah and a defeat for the United States and its main ally Israel.

"We hope that America will learn its lesson and will not enter a new conflict to disturb security in this region," Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said in a Friday prayers sermon broadcast live on state radio.

The United States and the European Union accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons and using its nuclear electricity plans as a cover-up. Iran denies the charge and says it wants nuclear energy to produce electricity not bombs.

The United States says it wants a diplomatic solution to the nuclear stand-off but has refused to rule out military action if diplomacy fails.

"It (the United States) should ... let us solve this regional and global problem (Iran's nuclear row) through negotiations," Rafsanjani said.

Some analysts say Iran may feel its hand has been strengthened after Hizbollah scored what Iran called a victory over U.S. ally Israel.

Tehran has vowed to expand its atomic fuel activities despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding it halt nuclear work by Aug. 31 or face the threat of sanctions.

Iran has denounced the resolution, which demanded Iran "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development".

Iran has also said that by Aug. 22 it will answer to a package of incentives proposed by six world powers in an attempt to encourage Iran to halt all nuclear activities.

However there has been no sign of acceptance on Iran's side.

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