"If we are referred to the Security Council, the government is obliged by the Majlis (Iran's parliament) to lift all voluntary measures including the Additional Protocol" to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Larijani told the economic daily.

Asked: "Does this mean you would resume fuel production, industrial enrichment?" he replied: "Yes."

The negotiator added, however: "The NPT is still alive and can survive. Iran will stay in the NPT. If the treaty is implemented well, it can help international order."

European Union negotiators Britain, France and Germany, seeking to obtain guarantees that Iran will not use nuclear research to hide secret weapons work, have called an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency for February 2 to decide whether to bring Iran before the Security Council for possible sanctions. They are backed by Washington.

But Larijani said: "There is no consensus over referral to the Security Council. The way Europe is dealing with Iran shows the lack of international consensus."

Russian President Vladimir Putin was loath to put pressure on Iran, and China held the same point of view, he went on.

"Our preference is for talks," he stressed.

Asked about a plan by Moscow to transfer enrichment activities to Russia to prove the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, Larijani replied: "The Russian proposal ... is one we can study. This proposal, however, has to be completed. There are some points which should be reconsidered in a more comprehensive plan.

"Generally speaking, we welcome any idea which can help resolve this problem. If the Chinese have any idea, we can consider that as well. But we have not received anything from them. (...) We have to see what potential this idea has for being productive."

Larijani said his country had "taken measures" to reply to eventual offensive action by Israel, which had hinted at military action to prevent Tehran from becoming a nuclear power.

"The Israelis (should) have a little bit of wisdom not to make such a mistake. The US also has a little bit of wisdom to realise this would change the regional situation in ways that will not benefit the US," Larijani said.

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