WASHINGTON Ñ The Bush administration maintains that Russia continues to help Iran in developing nuclear capability.

U.S. officials said that despite pressure from the Bush administration Moscow continues to provide technology to help Iran's nuclear weapons programs.

"I know they make an argument about whether or not it is proliferation of certain types of weapons, but there's no question they're working with Iran on their nuclear capability," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday.

Earlier, U.S. officials said Russia has significantly reduced missile and nonconventional weapons aid to Iran. They said the vaccum appears to have been filled by China and North Korea.

But Rumsfeld said Moscow continues to supply technology to Iran. The defense secretary said the Russian government has disputed U.S. allegations of proliferation and insists that Moscow has not violated any international treaties.

State Department officials have been meeting with their Russian counterparts regarding nonproliferation issues. The officials said the administration has achieved progress in efforts to restrain Russian technology exports to Iran.

But Pentagon officials said Russia helps such countries as China, Iran and Iraq in military technologies that can be used in missile development. They said Moscow is already protected by a missile defense system.

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