Tehran, Dec 30 (IANS) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran is now a nuclear country and that it has achieved nuclear know-how for energy purposes, a media report said.

"Though the US and its allies have been exerting political and propaganda pressure and have issued resolutions against Iran over its nuclear programme, all their efforts have failed and Iran has now become a nuclear country," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Addressing a gathering in northern Karaj city, the Iranian president said cooperation rather than confrontation was the only way to resolve issues related to Iran's nuclear energy programme.

"We are open to cooperation based on our rights," he said, warning Western countries that Iran would give a "regretting" response to anyone who "intends to prevent Iran from achieving its rights".

He termed the sanction resolutions passed by the UN against Iran as "illegal" and said the sanctions would only "strengthen the Iranian nation" and accelerate the pace of its progress.