The United States should not attack Iran unless it proves that the Islamic country's nuclear capabilities are a threat to the world, Malaysian officials said Sunday.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak - whose country chairs the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference - said Washington should not repeat the same mistakes it made in Iraq when it accused former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein of possessing weapons of mass destruction.

"We do not know what kind of information they have regarding Iran's nuclear capabilities, but I think what the world wants is hard and irrefutable evidence, if at all Iran is a threat to the world," Najib was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

"However, I don't think that anyone is convinced at this stage that Iran is a threat," Najib added. US President George W. Bush in his inauguration speech said he did not discount the possibility of the United States going to war with Iran, accusing the Islamic nation of causing problems to the world.

Bush's opinion was also echoed by Vice-President Dick Cheney, who said Iran topped the list of countries that were creating problems to the world.

"I don't know the basis of President George W. Bush's statement, but his last allegation (against Saddam Hussein) had proven to be baseless," Najib said. Asked whether Bush's statement would further strain relations between the United States and the Muslim world, Najib, said any attack against another Muslim country would be of great concern to the world.

"What is important is the sovereignty of the country concerned and the fact that there are international laws to be considered under the United Nations Charter, which guarantees the sovereign right of any nation," he said. "Malaysia will adhere to this fundamental principle," he said, adding that the government would closely monitor further developments.

Source: China Daily