Iran to plug oil pipes if referred to UN

"But if Iran's case is sent to the Security Council, we will respond by many ways, for example by holding back on oil sales," he told the United Arab Emirates' daily, The Khaleej Times.

"We have been extremely cooperative, we have had more than 1,200 man days of inspections, monitoring cameras are everywhere in our facilities."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution last Saturday recommending Iran be reported in the future to the Security Council for possible sanctions.

Analysts had predicted Iran could use oil as a lever against countries seeking to send Iran to the Security Council.

Iran said on Thursday it would start uranium enrichment and stop allowing UN snap inspections of its atomic facilities if it was referred to the Security Council in November.

The country also threatened to use trade to punish countries that have voted to report it to the UN Security council for possible sanctions.

Tehran says its nuclear programme is purely for generating electricity, but the United States and the European Union suspect Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Earlier failed Iranian presidential contender Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Friday appealed to the Islamic republic's hardline authorities to exercise restraint in a stand-off with the West over the country's nuclear programme.

In a sermon to worshippers at Tehran University, the moderate conservative said the dispute surrounding allegations Iran is seeking nuclear weapons was "very serious" and called on the regime to show "patience and wisdom".