Iran is prepared for possible U.S. military attacks over its nuclear program, but still prefers cooperation on the issue, Mottaki said, adding that threats would not force Tehran into making concessions.

In a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoganon Tuesday, Mottaki reiterated that his country's nuclear energy program is for peaceful purposes and thanked Turkey for its endeavors to help solve the issue.

During a trip to Vienna on Tuesday, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said that Iran was willing to restart negotiations on its nuclear program, but it rejected any precondition.

Following his meetings with ElBaradei and some other officials from Western countries in Vienna earlier in the day, Larijani told reporters that Iran wants to generate fuel for peaceful civilian purposes only.

Also on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad said that Iran wants talks and could even shut down its nuclear facilities if the United States and its allies do the same.

"We want talks, but they (the West) are imposing preconditions that would bereave our right," he said.

"They said our nuclear plant and the fuel cycle must be closed. This is OK only if those who want dialogue also suspend their own nuclear fuel cycles, and this is justice," he said.

Ahmadinejad's tone was likely more conciliatory than before and was seen as an effort to avoid fiery denunciation of the West before the UN deadline.

However, the United States on Tuesday immediately rejected the Iranian president's conditional offer and urged Tehran to comply with the UN Security Council's demand.

"That's not the way the UN Security Council resolution reads ...That is a false offer," White House spokesman Tony Snow told a news briefing.

"The offer that the Iranians need to make is to suspend activity that could lead to the enrichment of nuclear material that could be used in creating a bomb," the spokesman added.

Warning that the deadline was coming, Snow said that the United States was waiting to see "what happens in the next few days in terms of developments with the Iranians."

The United States has asked Iran to stop uranium enrichment, a necessary step both in generating nuclear energy and making a nuclear bomb. Iran insists that its nuclear program be solely for civilian energy purposes.

Local observers believe that the UN Security Council might negotiate another resolution, which would likely impose tougher sanctions on Tehran.

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