SARATOV, February 1 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is not capable of building its own nuclear weapons, the former head of a nuclear power plant and current regional leader in southern Russia said Wednesday.

Governor of the Saratov Region Pavel Ipatov said, "In reality, the U.S. is provoking Iran, accusing it of aiming, along with the implementation of its peaceful nuclear programs, to create its own nuclear weapons."

Ipatov, who was head the Balakovo power plant for almost 20 years, said that currently, in view of the methods in place for controlling the proliferation of nuclear weapons, "Iran is in no state to create a nuclear bomb secretly."

The United States, along with the trio of European negotiating with Iran (Great Britain, France and Germany), are employing "double standards" in accusing Iran of attempting to create nuclear weapons, and this greatly complicates the situation the country, he said.

If Iran's nuclear file is referred to the UN Security Council, Russia and China, both veto-wielding permanent members, could block resolutions on Iran, the governor said.

Ipatov also said that although Iran had adopted an "unconstructive position," he hoped Russia and China would be able to reach an agreement with the country on creating a peaceful joint project to enrich uranium for Iran on Russia's territory.