A member of Iran's top security body said Tehran would pull out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if any of its nuclear facilities came under military attack, a newspaper reported yesterday.

"Because we have obtained the essential (nuclear) technology, if they attack our facilities, we will withdraw from the NPT," the Kayhan daily quoted Ali Larijani, member of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying.

"If that case arose, our activities would go underground," Larijani, who is also head of Iran's state broadcaster IRIB – a position appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – said in a speech to university lecturers.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is aimed solely at generating electricity.

But U.S. officials maintain Iran is trying to covertly develop atomic weapons. Some U.S. think-tanks have said Washington might consider military strikes against some nuclear facilities in the country to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power.