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MOSCOW, Dec 5 (Reuters) - A U.S. intelligence report saying Tehran does not have an active nuclear weapons programme will be a factor in deciding whether new sanctions on Iran are needed, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"We will assess the situation on proposals for a new resolution in the United Nations Security Council on the basis of (several) factors, including the publication by the United States of data showing that Iran does not have a military nuclear programme," Lavrov told a news conference.

A U.S. National Intelligence Estimate report released on Monday said Tehran had been running a nuclear weapons programme but halted it in 2003, contradicting U.S. assessments that Tehran was still seeking to build a nuclear bomb.

Lavrov, speaking after a meeting with his Armenian counterpart, said the U.S. report "confirms the conclusion we have, which is that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons programme".

He also said Russian intelligence had no evidence that Iran had a nuclear weapons programme before 2003.

Russia was encouraged by Iran's cooperation with the United Nation's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, Lavrov said.

Russia urged Tehran to clear up outstanding questions on its nuclear programme and to heed a United Nations request to suspend its uranium enrichment programme. (Writing by Christian Lowe; editing by Sami Aboudi)

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