New York: Despite Russia's denial about its role in building the two new nuclear facilities in Iran, the US authorities have concluded that Moscow supplied Teheran with much of the equipment and expertise used in building the facilities, reports said on December 16.

A senior Defence Department official who has monitored developments at the Iranian plants closely told the 'New York Times' that the Russians were involved "in all aspects of the Iranian nuclear programme", including the two newly disclosed facilities.

The case is the latest example of the Bush administration's growing difficulties with nations that it has hailed as allies in its efforts against al-Qaida and other terrorist groups.

"We are in an uncomfortable position where allies we very much need do not see these proliferation dangers the same way we do," one senior administration official was quoted as saying.

"Pakistan has been identified by the CIA (Central Intelligence Bureau) as both a supplier of nuclear technology to North Korea and a purchaser of North Korean missiles."

"Yemen took delivery of a shipload of North Korean missiles over the weekend, after the shipment had been seized at sea," the report said on December 16.

President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney agreed to let it proceed after Yemen's President angrily told Cheney that the United States had no right to interfere.

The United States said it was "deeply concerned" about the two sites, which have been known to American intelligence agencies for more than a year.

PTI