Iran's parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani told former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that it is impossible to deprive Tehran of nuclear technology for peaceful uses.

"Iran has observed international regulations and depriving Iran of nuclear technology and energy for peaceful purposes is impossible," Larijani told Schroeder during a meeting in Tehran.

The latest remarks by Larijani, a former nuclear negotiator for Iran, came after the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday said Iran is continuing to enrich uranium, potentially a stage in making an atomic bomb, but has slowed down the expansion of its enrichment activities.

Tehran and Western powers are at loggerheads over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. The West suspects the programme is aimed at acquiring atomic weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

Schroeder, who is on an unofficial visit to Iran, met top officials of the Islamic republic, including hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. During his meeting with Larijani, the former chancellor praised Iran's "positive and constructive role in Afghanistan".

However, in a speech on Saturday at the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Schroeder criticised Ahmadinejad for doubting the Holocaust.