Iran said on Monday a US threat to form an independent coalition to impose sanctions if the UN Security Council failed to act over Tehran's nuclear programme was an insult to the council's work.

The Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday that the US ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, had indicated Washington was prepared to act independently with allies to freeze Iranian assets and restrict trade if the council did not.

“These remarks (by Bolton) are an obvious insult to the Security Council,” Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham told a weekly news conference. “These remarks are just bullying and baseless remarks and show that they (the US) are not competent to be a member of the Security Council,” he added.

The United States has called for a swift response if Iran does not heed the Security Council's Thursday deadline to halt uranium enrichment.

Iran also said on Monday it is not concerned about this week's UN deadline demanding it suspend a key part of its disputed nuclear programme or face political and economic sanctions.

“Moving in the international framework is not a matter of concern for us,” said Elham.

The LA Times said Washington planned to introduce a resolution imposing penalties soon after the August 31 deadline if Iran's position did not change. But analysts say divisions, particularly opposition from veto-wielding powers Russia and China, could delay any move.

Iran has so far shown no sign it will halt enrichment, a process which can make fuel for nuclear power plants or material for nuclear bombs.

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