Former chief U.N. weapons inspector Mr Hans Blix has been quoted as saying he hoped Washington had learned its lesson in Iraq about the need for multinational cooperation.
Mr Blix also told the Belgian daily
De Morgenthe United States could not simply choose to leave Iraq after toppling Saddam Hussein.
"The United States is on the ground, they can't leave now. But . . . they don't have much experience in reconstructing a country," said Mr Blix, the former Swedish foreign minister who for 16 years headed the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"They will need the United Nations a great deal. I hope the Americans have learned their lesson and recognise the need for cooperation.
"I don't really see them doing quite the same thing in Iran or North Korea very quickly. And you better believe that when they show up with evidence again, we will scrutinise them very closely," he said.
Mr Blix is putting together and heading a new commission against weapons of mass destruction, paid for by Sweden and supported by international think-thanks.