The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says there is 'no concrete evidence' Tehran is pursuing atomic weapons, as Western countries suspect.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Mohamed ElBaradei also claimed that Iran wants to gain more prestige and recognition in the region by pursuing its nuclear program.

"They believe that the nuclear know-how brings prestige, brings power, and they would like to see the US engaging them," Reuters quoted the International Atomic Energy Agency as saying on Wednesday.

Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at the civilian applications of the technology and has called for the removal of weapons of mass destruction from around the globe. Western countries, however, accuse it of seeking nuclear weaponry.

"Unfortunately that holds some truth. Iran has been taken seriously since they have developed their program," he vaguely added, asserting Iran's nuclear program was a "means to an end."

MGH/SS/RE