"Iran's nuclear activities are merely a pretext for the West, since even in the absence of it, too, there would be other dossiers," Larijani was quoted by the official IRNA news agency assaying in a speech to militia troops and professors.

Larijani also denounced US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent allegation that Iran is the central bank for international terrorism as another pretext parallel to the nuclear issue.

"US Secretary of State Rice says that Iran is the central bank for international terrorism. What does that have to do with our nuclear program? They have pursued parallel projects against us," Larijani said.

The negotiator said that Iran would not give in under pressure, echoing Iranian Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei, who said on Tuesday that any retreat on the nuclear issue could cause chain reactions against Iran's sovereignty.

"They have decided to increase drastic pressure against us to urge us to retreat, but such a retreating would be strategic and lead to a chain of other retreating," Larijani said.

Larijani's remarks came soon before the 15-member UN Security Council will convene over the Iranian nuclear issue. Since the International Atomic Energy Agency handed over the Iranian file to the Security Council, the permanent five of the council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China --have held several rounds of negotiations on the next move over Iran but failed to reach consensus.

The United States and Britain are inclined to set a two-week deadline for Iran to suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment, but Russia and China voiced concern that such a measure could run counterproductive.

The permanent five and Germany have been scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday in a further bid for a unanimous stance on Iran. Iran has denounced the involvement of the Security Council, vowing never to give in to pressure and bully.