TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran on Monday dismissed the US threat to Tehran as an attempt to sabotage the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the European Union (EU), the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "Washington is willing to sabotage Iran-EU negotiations, but of course it will depend on the European partners whether or not to beinfluenced by Washington," government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh was quoted as saying.

    "The language of threat is not acceptable to us. We are ready tohold dialogue and ready to defend our country. Our nation proved that it never allowed any aggressors to benefit from aggression on Iran," Ramezanzadeh added.

    US President George W. Bush have refused to rule out military strikes on Iran over its alleged attempt to develop nuclear weapons, though it expressed support for diplomatic efforts made bythe EU to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program.

    Iran and the EU have held two rounds of negotiations on on Iran's disputed nuclear program since Tehran suspended uranium enrichment activities on Nov. 22, 2004.

    However, it was reported recently that the negotiations had reached a deadlock and that the EU hardened its attitudes by askingIran to stop all nuclear activities.

    Ramezanzadeh said Iran is keen to speed up the negotiations withthe EU.

    "Iran does not want to see prolongation of the timetable," he said.

    The two sides are to kick off the third round of talks on Tuesday in Geneva.

    Iran has always denied the US charge that it is seeking nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Enditem