Iran has repeated its opposition to any US strike on neighbouring Iraq, saying the region "cannot bear a new war".
"Resorting to force to change a government is against international law, principles of democracy and morality. It is up to the people to carry out such a change," foreign ministry spokesman, Mr Hamid-Reza Asefi, told a news conference.
"We consider that the region cannot bear a new war, which would worsen tension. I hope that the United States will not attack Iraq," Mr Asefi said. But Iraq should respect UN resolutions "to avoid giving a pretext to the Americans" to interfere, he said.
Mr Asefi also referred to last month's "irrational remarks" by US President Mr George W. Bush labelling Iran part of an "axis of evil" along with Iraq and North Korea. "Every country in the world except for Israel protested those remarks," he said.
"World public opinion is not after war. Now it is the United States which is isolated from the rest of the world. It is the American government which will be the loser and should answer to world public opinion, and especially the Americans," he said.