Ahani said on France-Info radio that Iran was "not at all worried" about a possible U.S. attack, though "we are insisting on solving things by negotiation and through diplomacy."

"If they (the Americans) go that way, we will be forced to defend ourselves. We are capable of defending ourselves and confronting any sort of threat," he added.

The United States suspects Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons and said it did not rule out using force to make Tehran submit to the requests of the international community.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that "there must be consequences for Iran's defiance, and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon."

The International Atomic Energy Agency also said Thursday that Iran was continuing with its uranium enrichment program despite an ultimatum from the UN Security Council to stop.

Washington was pushing for UN sanctions on Iran because Teheran did not conform to UN resolution 1696 adopted on July 31, which gave Iran the deadline of August 31 to suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment.

Ahani said the resolution was "unjust" and added that Iran respected international rules as a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

He also affirmed that Iran was going to explain its position to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who was expected to visit Teheran on Saturday.