Iran said today a US threat to form an independent coalition to impose sanctions if the UN Security Council failed to act over Tehran's nuclear programme was an insult to the world body.
The Los Angeles Timessaid on Saturday the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, had indicated Washington was prepared to act independently with close allies to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade if the council did not do so.
Washington has previously called for a swift response if Iran does not heed the Security Council's Thursday deadline to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can make fuel for reactors or material for warheads.
"These remarks [by Bolton] are an obvious insult to the Security Council," an Iranian government spokesman said. "These remarks are just bullying and baseless remarks and show that they [the United States] are not competent to be a member of the Security Council."
The Los Angeles Timessaid Washington planned to introduce a resolution imposing penalties soon after the August 31st deadline if the Islamic Republic's position did not change.
Analysts say opposition from veto-wielding powers Russia and China, big trade partners of Iran who see no imminent threat to peace from Tehran's nuclear programme, could delay any move.
Iran has so far shown no sign it will halt enrichment, a process the West says Iran is using to build atomic bombs. Iran denies the charge, saying it wants only to generate electricity.
Mr Bolton said Washington was working on a parallel diplomatic track outside the United Nations if Russia and China did not accept the resolution, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"You don't need Security Council authority to impose sanctions, just as we have," Mr Bolton was quoted as saying.