Russia's President, Vladimir Putin has slammed the Bush administration's policy of demonizing the Islamic republic of Iran as a threat.

"No one can seriously think that Iran would dare attack the United States," a source in the Russian delegation at the NATO-Russia summit in Bucharest quoted Putin as telling leaders.

"Instead of pushing Iran into a corner, it would be far more sensible to think together how to help Iran become more predictable and transparent."

US President George W. Bush has repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weaponry; while the IAEA and the NIE, in their latest reports, have approved that the nature of Iran's nuclear program is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity.

Speaking at a NATO summit in Bucharest on Wednesday, Bush said the European missile shield was necessary to defend Europe from an 'emerging threat', namely Iran.

However, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini has rejected US claims that Iran is a threat to Europe's security as baseless and "unfounded".

MT/MMN