Iran Bristles At Idea Of Sanctions

Iran warned Sunday that referring it to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over its controversial nuclear activities will lead to a no-win situation with "certain consequences."

New Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki also told a press conference that Iran plans to organize tenders for building two more nuclear power plants in the Islamic republic.

Mottaki reiterated Iran's position that it won't stop uranium reprocessing, rejecting a U.S.-backed European threat that Tehran has about a week to freeze the activities or face referral to the Security Council for possible sanctions.

"There is no legal or legitimate reason, given Iran's transparent activities and its open cooperation with the IAEA ... that Iran be referred to the U.N. Security Council," Mottaki told reporters.

"If a political decision is made to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, it will be entering a lose-lose game," he added. "It will have its own certain consequences and will affect Iran's decisions. We prefer that such a game is not played."

The United States accuses Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to secretly produce nuclear weapons. Iran has rejected the charges, saying its nuclear program is geared merely toward generating electricity, not a bomb.

Though Iran's relationship with Washington has been especially contentious lately, CBS News Correspondent Charles Wolfson says Iran offered 10 million barrels of crude oil to the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

However, Wolfson adds, the State Department's Harry Thomas Jr. said Iran's offer of aid "was a conditional offer … So we don't deal with that."