Iran warned on Wednesday that any possible UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program would cripple the chance of a peaceful solution to the issue, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said although continuing talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana is still possible, "any new (UN Security Council) resolution would diminish the chance of an agreement."

UN Security Council sanctions "would be considered as a threat to Iran's security and will change our attitude," the Iranian official told Mehr.

Meanwhile, Larijani reiterated Iran's warning that Tehran would limit the inspections by the UN atomic watchdog to its nuclear sites if it is imposed sanctions over its nuclear disputes.

He referred to a bill that has been adopted by Iran's parliamentary national security commission that calls for suspension of UN inspections if sanctions were imposed.

The Iranian parliament would "defend the natural interests" of the country, Larijani added.
 
In addition, Alaeddin Borujerdi, head of the parliament's national security commission, also voiced his warning that Iran would suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Borujerdi said that if the current situation was to be continued and directed towards sanctions, Iran would no longer consider the continuance of cooperation with the IAEA, the Iranian Student's News Agency (ISNA) reported.

"Iran ... as a country which is after peaceful application of nuclear energy and firmly against all nuclear weapons ... can not be compared to those countries that have no commitment to international regulations," ISNA quoted Borujerdi as saying.

The Iranian officials made the warnings one day after EU foreign ministers adopted a statement saying that Iran's continuation of enrichment related activities has left the EU no choice but to support consultations on sanctions.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2006)