TEHRAN, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran on Sunday warned the United States against any attack attempt, saying any aggressive maneuvers against Iran would be a great strategic mistake.

   "The Islamic republic is fully capable of defending itself, so only those who want to make a great strategic mistake would have the idea of attacking Iran," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said at his routine news briefing.

   Asefi, however, said the US threat was unlikely to materialize, terming it as only "psychological war."

   "We don't think a real attack is going to be launched by the United States," Asefi said.

   The spokesman also called on the international community to take actions to stop the US policies.

   "Iran expects the international community to keep close watch on the Bush administration, for it is eligible to stop any wrong policy of some countries," Asefi said.

   US President George W. Bush said on Monday that he would not rule out military actions against Iran. Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice also urged the world to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and threatened to refer Tehran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

   At the inauguration ceremony of Bush's second term on Thursday, Vice President Dick Cheney ranked Iran at top of a list of global trouble spots.

   Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said in response that Iran would strongly stand up to any aggression.

   Asefi further noted that US officials' comments were aimed at pressurizing the European Union (EU) to follow the US policy on the
Iranian nuclear issue and were motivated by a desire to launch religious and cultural wars.

   "The US actually likes to see Europe fail in its talks with Iran. Militarism is the main reason behind the comments," he said,
referring to the ongoing negotiations between the EU and Tehran on the nuclear issue and trade cooperation.

   "The negotiations between the two sides are going favorably," Asefi went on.

   "Even the EU and President Bush's accomplices have rejected those remarks and viewed them as declarations of an all-out war against the whole world. A desire behind it was to launch religious and cultural wars," Asefi added.

   The United States, accusing Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons, has threatened to launch preemptive attacks on Iran's
nuclear facilities.

   Iran rejects the charge and threat, saying its nuclear research is fully peaceful and boasting an effective deterrent power to confront its enemies in the region.  Enditem