Iranian president's election sparks nuclear fears

His concerns were echoed around the West - though Moscow, which is building a reactor for the Iranians in the southern port city of Bushehr, spoke of further developing its nuclear co-operation with Tehran.

In a statement issued in London, Mr Straw called on Mr Ahmadinejad to reassure the international community not only about the nuclear programme, but also over Tehran's policies towards terrorism, human rights and the Middle East peace process.

He voiced concerns too about what he described as "serious deficiencies" in the electoral process which saw Mr Ahmadinejad, an ultra-conservative, score a landslide victory over the `moderate' candidate, former president Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Mr Ahmadinejad is likely be a tough negotiating partner in Iran's talks on its nuclear ambitions with the European troika of Britain, France and Germany.

The US contends that the programme is designed to develop a nuclear weapon, but Tehran insists that it is intended only to produce energy for civilian uses.

Mr Ahmadinejad has criticised Iran's current negotiators for making too many concessions - particularly in freezing the uranium enrichment programme - and is expected to put the overall programme into the hands of some avowed anti-Western clerics.

In his statement, Mr Straw said: "I hope that under Mr Ahmadinejad's presidency, Iran will take early steps to address international concerns about its nuclear programme and policies towards terrorism, human rights and the Middle East Peace Process."

Mr Straw also made clear his concerns about the voting process.

He said: "Regrettably, there were serious deficiencies in the election process by international standards.

"Candidates, senior figures in the regime and election officials have complained of widespread interference and electoral malpractice by the security forces and other regime organs in the first round."

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Joanne Moore indicated that yesterday's result would not change the US view of Iran.

"With the conclusion of the elections in Iran, we have seen nothing that sways us from our view that Iran is out of step with the rest of the region in the currents of freedom and liberty that have been so apparent in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon," she said.

French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, speaking in Paris, said: "We express the wish that the newly elected Iranian authorities can continue the work that we European diplomats started with the goal of suspending (uranium enrichment) activities."

Iran suspended all enrichment activities in November to avoid having its programme referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

But yesterday Iran's foreign ministry said that a permanent suspension of uranium enrichment is "not in the cards".

In Tokyo, Japanese foreign ministry spokesman Hatsuhisa Takashima said: "Our country hopes the new president ... will resume domestic reforms, while seriously considering (Iran's) ties with international society in handling nuclear issues and various other policies."

However, in a letter to Mr Ahmadinejad released by the Kremlin in Moscow, Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is "ready to continue cooperation with Iran in the nuclear energy sphere with respect to our international obligations in the non-proliferation area."

Russia has offered Iran to build more nuclear reactors after completing the 800 million, 1,000-megawatt Bushehr plant, set to become fully operational by the end of 2006.

In Britain, opposition politicians echoed Mr Straw's concerns.

Shadow foreign secretary Dr Liam Fox said: "Economic reform and a halt to Iran's nuclear programme are essential for the prosperity and security of Iran and the region as a whole."

And Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell said :``Any attempt to evade their responsibilities under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty could lead to great instability in the Middle East and concerted action against Iran through the United Nations."

Mr Ahmadinejad's victory gives conservatives control of Iran's two highest elected offices - the presidency and parliament.

This will give a freer hand to the non-elected theocracy, which holds the final word on all important policies.

Reformers, who lost control of parliament last year, had swung behind Mr Rafsanjani in yesterday's vote, hoping to preserve the social freedoms won in recent years, such as looser dress codes, more mixing between the sexes, and openings to the West.

But yesterday's contest gave Mr Ahmadinejad, currently Tehran's mayor, 61.6% of the vote over Rafsanjani's 35.9%.