WASHINGTON Ñ U.S. defense sources say Russia is denying strategic weapons technology to Iran.

The sources said that over the last few months Russian President Vladimir Putin has implemented Moscow's oft-repeated pledges to stop the transfer of key systems for Iranian projects to develop long-range missiles and nuclear weapons. They said the result has been a suspension or slow-down in several key military programs by Teheran.

The result, the sources said, is that Iran is again turning to its former missile developers Ñ China and North Korea. The sources said North Korea has helped Iran develop a chemical weapons warhead for the Shihab-3 missile, with a range of 1,300 kilometers and based on Pyongyang's No-Dong.

Israeli officials have acknowledged that Russia has slowed down the transfer of missile and nuclear technology to Teheran. But they maintained that Moscow has a long way to go until the flow of Russian technology to Iran is halted, Middle East Newsline reported.

"We are seeing significant progress in Russia's attitude toward Iran," a defense source who is monitoring Iran's strategic programs said. "This has affected Iranian programs. But Teheran is already seeking other options."

The sources said Russia has denied Iran the technology and components required for the Shihab-4 long-range missile program. The missile is meant to have a range of up to 2,400 kilometers, which would put much of Europe under threat.

Both the United States and the European Union have urged Russia to stop the Shihab-4. Iran was said to have been interested in developing the Shihab based on the Soviet SS-4 missile. Iran was believed to have planned completion of Shihab-4 development in 2002.

At the same time, U.S. sources said Moscow has also stopped the transfer of key components required for Iran's nuclear weapons programs. This includes components to produce fissile material.

U.S. officials remain concerned over the Bushehr project and are pressing Russia to limit any technology and components to that of a nuclear reactor being constructed in North Korea by a U.S.-led consortium. The officials are concerned that Bushehr will be used as a cover for a secret nuclear weapons program.

Teheran has not acknowledged any slowdown of Russian technology to Iran.

In greeting Alexander Maryasov, Russia's new ambassador to Teheran, President Mohammad Khatami expressed optimism over Iranian-Russian cooperation. Khatami cited the Bushehr project as an example of cooperation between the two countries.

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