'Gulf states to oppose Iran attack'

"We are certain that Gulf countries will not back the United States in waging an attack on Iran," Rafsanjani said on the second day of a visit to Kuwait aimed at allaying fears in the region over Iran's nuclear activities.

"The talk about a US attack on Iran is nonsense and we are sure the Americans would not want create problems for themselves."

Rafsanjani, who heads Iran's powerful Expediency Council, met with Kuwaiti deputies after holding talks with the emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

His visit follows Iran's announcement last week that it had successfully enriched uranium to the level needed to make reactor fuel, triggering global concern about its nuclear ambitions.

Uranium enrichment can be extended to make weapons, and the UN Security Council has given Iran's hardline leadership until April 28 to freeze the sensitive fuel cycle work.

Kuwaiti parliament speaker Jassem al-Khorafi tried to play down the worries in the Gulf over Iran's nuclear facilities, including a reactor being built with Russian help in Bushehr across the Gulf, and its standoff with the West.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the powerful US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Sunday urged the United States to take up direct negotiations with Iran to resolve the continuing crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Speaking on ABC television's "This Week" programme, Republican Senator Richard Lugar said talks with Iran could prove "useful" in breaking the impasse.

"Now, the Iranians are a part of the energy picture. Clearly their ties with India and with China, quite apart from others, are really critical," he said.

"We need to talk about that," said Lugar, who said the discussions on Iran's nuclear programme could be held alongside future talks about Iraq.