Iran warned the United States today not to attack its nuclear facilities and said talks with Europe might produce a deal to defuse the dispute over its alleged covert ambitions to build atomic weapons.
"They know our capabilities. We have clearly told the Europeans to tell the Americans not to play with fire," Iranian spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a news briefing in Tehran, referring to Washington's refusal to rule out the use of force.
Germany, however, warned that Iran could be referred to the UN Security Council for its nuclear activities - a toughening of the European line that narrows a rift between Europe and Washington which Iran has tried for months to exploit.
The Washington Post, meanwhile, reported that US military bases had been flying pilotless drone aircraft into Iran to hunt for tell-tale traces of nuclear weapons programmes.
The newspaper said the US military had been flying pilotless planes into Iran from bases in Iraq using radar, photography and air filters to detect nuclear activity. Iran denies US accusations it is building bombs under cover of the civil programme. But Mr Asefi said it would never permanently end its disputed nuclear activities. "Iran strongly insists on its views and we will not give up our people's legitimate right," he declared.
Mr Asefi said Iran was determined to continue its nuclear programme which it says is solely for peaceful power generation. But Washington accuses Tehran of secretly pursuing atomic weapons under cover of the civil programme and says it does not rule out any option to stop it acquiring them.
France, Britain and Germany have been trying to persuade Iran to scrap potentially weapons-related activities in return for economic incentives.
Iran has said repeatedly it will not give up plans to build a heavy-water reactor, which can be used to make weapons-grade material, in exchange for a light-water reactor offered by the Europeans, which is less useful for a weapons programme.
Iran suspended uranium enrichment in November as a goodwill gesture in the run-up to the talks with EU nations, but said the suspension would be last months rather than years. Enriched uranium can be used in both weapons and power stations.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said last week Tehran must accept terms offered by the European Union or be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.