Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday warned European countries against taking a "hostile act" over Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West.

    "The European countries should know that if they insist on preventing Iran's (nuclear) work, we would consider this as a hostile act and react accordingly," he told a rally in the western city of Kermanshah.

    "I advise you that do not mess with Iran as friendship with Iran will be in your best interests," Ahmadinejad said in a speech which was broadcast on state television.

    He did not specify Tehran's reaction, but some Iranian officials have warned that Iran might revise its relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if the UN Security Council imposes sanctions on it.

    Britain, France and Germany have provided the UN Security Council members with a revised draft resolution which would impose sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

    According to Russia's Interfax news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday the new draft resolution provided by the three European countries largely reflects Moscow's concerns, hinting it might get Russia's backing in the Security Council.

    However, Iranian officials have said that the European draft is more in line with the "U.S. interfering policies."

    Iran says that it needs to use nuclear power as a peaceful, alternative energy source and has the right to do so under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

    However, the West has accused Iran of trying to produce nuclear weapons under a civilian cover, a charge denied by Tehran.

    Due to Iran's resistance to suspend uranium enrichment, the European countries and the United States have been seeking a UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Tehran.