Ali Larijani answers reporters' questions during Tehran press conference, 30 May 2007

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has warned the U.N. Security Council against imposing new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, saying doing so would be a "grave mistake."

Iranian state media quote Ali Larijani as saying a new sanctions resolution would make Iran's cooperation with the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency "futile."

Larijani spoke Monday on the first day of talks in Tehran between between senior officials from Iran and the IAEA.

The talks, aimed at resolving questions about Iran's nuclear program, are scheduled to continue Tuesday. They come ahead of an IAEA report on Iran that is due for release next month.

The U.N. Security Council has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons.

The United States and its allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its program is aimed at producing energy.

Iran recently agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to view a sensitive nuclear facility to help resolve questions about its nuclear ambitions.