Iran warns UN: Don't play with lion's tail

TEHRAN (AFP) - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday warned the UN Security Council against imposing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear drive, telling the world body it risked playing with a "lion's tail".

"We advise them not to indulge in child's play. Our actions are legal and Iran is a great country," Ahmadinejad said at a news conference.

"They say that Iran is a lion sat down in a corner. And we tell them: Do not play with the lion's tail," he warned.

Iran has infuriated the West by refusing international demands to suspend uranium enrichment, a process Europe and the United States fear could be used to make nuclear weapons.

The United States and its Western allies now want the UN Security Council to impose a third set of sanctions against Tehran to punish its defiance to follow packages of measures imposed in December and March.

"The previous sanctions have had no effect on the determination of Iran. We have told them that every step you take along this erroneous path will only bring you prejudice," Ahmadinejad said.

The United States has never ruled out the use of military force to make Iran heed the Security Council's ultimatum.

Tehran insists it wants only to generate energy for a growing population and its leaders have vowed they will hit back hard against any attack on atomic installations.