DAR AL ISLAM - IRAN: WE WILL ATTEND THE MEETINGS IN IRAQ & RESPOND SERIOUSLY TO ANY NEW SANCTIONS

Iran warns West against more sanctions; confirms taking part in Iraq conference

TEHRAN (AFX) - World powers will receive a "serious response" from Iran if they adopt a new UN resolution imposing more sanctions over its nuclear programme, top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani warned today.

"If they go ahead in an extreme manner and issue a resolution, they will receive a serious answer and the conditions will change," Larijani was quoted as saying by the state-run INRA agency. "Issuing a resolution will affect many things," he said, without elaborating.

"In reality, there are two paths in front of us and them. One path is that we should follow this matter through realistic and not artificial negotiations. We prefer this first path," said Larijani.

Ambassadors from the UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany are mulling new sanctions against Iran over its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment operations.

Meanwhile, Iran for the first time confirmed it will take part in a conference on Iraq's security which will also be attended by the United States.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran would send a deputy foreign minister to Saturday's Baghdad conference, which will bring together world powers and Iraq's neighbours to discuss how to end the daily bloodshed in Iraq.

"The Iranian delegation will be headed by the deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs (Abbas Araghchi)," Mottaki told reporters.

He said Iran would take part "with the aim of helping the Iraqi government and people."

"We hope that the results of the Baghdad conference will be a clear message that the countries in the region stand by the Iraqi government in combatting instability," Mottaki added.

"Considering this attitude, we hope that the result will be that an end to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq is nearing."

Iran, which has forged strong relations with the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad after the toppling of its enemy Saddam Hussein, has repeatedly said the immediate withdrawal of US troops is the best way to stabilise Iraq.

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1) Iran warns West against more sanctions; confirms taking part in Iraq conference