"The US is trying to weaken international institutions by using lies and tricky unilateralist policies. The US is trying to make up for its inability to get other countries on side," he added.

He was responding to comments made Wednesday by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rice had said she was confident a diplomatic solution will be found to the Iranian nuclear crisis, but warned that military options remain on the table and that Washington will not necessarily wait for an international consensus.

"The right to self-defense does not necessarily require a UN Security Council resolution," Rice said.

Asefi repeated that Iran is only seeking to generate electricity and not acquire the bomb.

"By exaggeration and distortion, the Americans are trying to heat up the atmosphere and create concerns about the Islamic republic's peaceful and normal nuclear programme," Asefi complained.

Iran's defence minister also reiterated the threat of harsh retaliation to any attack.

"If any power wants to carry out their threat, we will give a quick, firm and bitter response," Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar was quoted as saying.

He also said that "this year, Iran will use intelligent defence equipment", but did not elaborate on what this entailed.

The United Nations Security Council has given Iran until April 28 to freeze uranium enrichment work, a process to make reactor fuel and, if extended, the core of a nuclear weapon. Iran has refused to comply with the demand.

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