It is time to start closing that chapter of "humilitation" that Americans felt so strongly about instead of remaining haunted by the memories, Brzezinski said.

In an interview with the Financial Times, he believed that there must eventually be "some accommodation" and that the west may even have to learn to live with Iran as a nuclear power as it did with China and later with India and Pakistan.

The aide, who served President Jimmy Carter during the takeover of the US Embassy following the Islamic Revolution in Iran, was questioned on the differences between the US and the European Union approach to Iran's nuclear program.

He said that he feared a second Bush administration will "be very much inclined to use force" to deal with what it sees as a threat posed by Iran hostile to the US and Israel.

"There are people in this administration who would like to attack Iran. The neo-cons fall into this category," Brzezinski told the paper.

But he warned that the use of force will "unify" Iran. It "may stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and will have adverse consequences in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.

Although hawks like the US under-secretary for arms control, John Bolton, are tipped for promotion, the former National Security Advisor said that moderate Republicans do not expect a significant policy shift following President George W Bush's re-election.

"I prefer to think the Bush administration is not determined to make a habit of shooting itself in the foot. Hopefully it learned from the miscalculations of its Iraq policy," he said.