Iran's Larijani meets German foreign minister

BERLIN, Jun 5 (Reuters) Iran's president today warned the U N Security Council against imposing more sanctions on Tehran, saying it was like ''playing with a lion's tale'' as chief negotiator met Germany's foreign minister over the atomic row.

''They should be aware that Iran is a big country. Some say Iran is like a lion sitting calmly in the corner. We advise them not to play with a lion's tail,'' President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference with visiting foreign journalists.

The talks in Berlin between Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier were taking place in the first part of the day.

The meeting follows last week's talks in Madrid between Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana which produced no breakthrough on Tehran's core dispute with the West -- its refusal to suspend nuclear enrichment as a precondition for negotiations on trade benefits.

It also comes on the eve of a Group of Eight (G8) summit in the German resort of Heiligendamm, where the leaders of the industrialised nations will discuss Iran, among other issues.

''I can confirm a meeting today is taking place between Mr Larijani and the foreign minister,'' said a spokeswoman for Berlin's foreign ministry, declining to elaborate.

Originally it was Larijani's deputy Javad Vaeedi who was to meet the political directors for Germany and the European Union.

One diplomat close to the Iran-EU discussions said Vaeedi was planning to warn them against a crackdown on Tehran over its nuclear programme at this week's Group of Eight (G8) summit.

Another diplomat close to the German foreign ministry said the Iranians had decided to upgrade the meeting to a ministerial level, most likely to send a stronger message.

The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy programme. Tehran says its nuclear programme is aimed solely at the peaceful generation of electricity and refuses to stop enrichment.

HARD WORDS FROM TEHRAN The Security Council has slapped two rounds of sanctions on Iran since December for its failure to stop atomic work which the West believes is aimed at building a nuclear warhead. World powers have warned Iran could now face another resolution.

President Ahmadinejad said the Security Council should avoid illegal measures against Iran.

''They observed that previous sanctions had no effect on Iran's nuclear activities and we have told them not to enter this path. They cannot harm our nation,'' he said.

''Iran's move has passed the point where they (western countries) could stop it,'' he said.

Iranian officials have regularly dismissed the impact of sanctions, which have included targeting a major Iranian state bank. Although sanctions are narrowly focused, economists say they are still deterring both foreign and local investors.

Last week G8 foreign ministers met in Germany and issued a tough statement warning Iran that it faced ''further appropriate measures'' if it continued to ignore U N Security Council demands that it suspend uranium enrichment.

Last week, some diplomats said Iran wanted to make it clear it could harden its position if the G8 adopts a tougher stance.

Iran hopes to get Berlin to back a softer line, or an interim solution that would not include full suspension, they said.

''They consider Germany the weak link,'' said one European diplomat today.

However, it seems unlikely that Chancellor Angela Merkel would agree to break ranks with the United States, France and Britain who want full suspension.

A German official stressed the meeting with Steinmeier was taking place against a background of close cooperation with Solana, who -- his spokeswoman said -- was not joining today's talks.

REUTERS syu ht1757