"We know well the methods and the madness of the Bush administration," Ali Ahani told a French journalists' association gathering.

Asked about the possibility of a US military strike against Iran's nuclear installations, Ahani said the threats mostly involved "posturing" but that his country was "absolutely ready to confront it".

The ambassador urged France "not to give the impression that there is an alignment with the United States" and to "give the image of an independent country".

He also warned against new sanctions against Iran that "could radicalise the situation and further complicate things".

The UN's nuclear watchdog said in a key report Thursday that Iran had made "substantial progress" in revealing the nature and extent of its disputed nuclear programme, but needed to be more pro-active in providing information.

The UN Security Council had been awaiting the report and another by the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana set to be released later this month.

The United States and some of its European allies have been pushing for a UN vote on a new third round of sanctions if the reports show Tehran is failing to come clean on the true nature and extent of its nuclear activities.

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