VIENNA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States doubts Iran's intentions to suspend uranium enrichment that can help make nuclear arms, a senior US official said Tuesday.

    "We are very skeptical of Iran's long-term intentions, and we do not expect Iran to comply over the long term with any commitment not to develop nuclear weapons," US Assistant Secretaryof State for Arms Control Stephen Rademaker told reporters here.

    Following a third round of talks with negotiators from France, Germany and Britain over the weekend in Paris, diplomats said theyexpected Iran to announce this week a full suspension of activities that can be used to make nuclear arms.

    Hossein Moussavian, an Iranian negotiator, announced Sunday Iran and the European Union have reached a "preliminary agreement"on easing concerns over Iran's nuclear program following two days of crucial negotiations in Paris.

    The agreement would require Iran to continue its voluntary freeze on enriching uranium and to stop related activities -- but only until the two sides can reach a deal on European technological and trade support for Tehran, including helping it develop a peaceful nuclear program.

    The US view remains that "Iran has seriously embarked on an effort to develop nuclear weapons," said Rademaker.

    But, he added, "We've told our European allies that we will notstand in the way of their effort to come to some diplomatic understanding with Iran."

    Iran denies US accusations that it is using a civilian nuclear program as a cover to pursue nuclear weapons. It says it wants only to generate electricity. Enditem