Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says a report from the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency that says Tehran may have carried out nuclear work with possible military purposes “lacks legal credibility.”

He said comments made Monday by the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency would have no bearing on Iran's nuclear activities.

The Iranian president spoke Tuesday during a Tehran news conference that covered a broad range of regional developments.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano also criticized Iran for not cooperating with international nuclear experts. His speech in Vienna came at the start of a week-long board meeting on nuclear developments.

Western nations say Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

In his news conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad also cautioned the United States against intervening in Syria's anti-government unrest, saying the Syrian government is capable of solving its own problems. He also accused the U.S. of meddling in anti-government unrest in Bahrain. a charge Washington has denied.