"Even if the West provided us with all economic, political and security incentives, Iran would not drop its nuclear fuel program," Ali Aqamohammadi, the spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted by the Iranian Students News Agency as saying Saturday.

He was referring to a reported proposal by the EU trio -- Britain, France and Germany -- which is to be submitted by the end of this month, to offer Tehran cooperation in providing nuclear power along with economic and political incentives.

"Maintaining nuclear fuel technology is our red line, which will also determine whether to continue the talks or not," the Iranian spokesman warned.

He said Iran's right to produce its own nuclear fuel has made the main framework of talks with the Europeans since October 2003. At that time, Tehran agreed suspend all sensitive nuclear work, including uranium enrichment. Aqamohammadi stressed his country "would never ever make any concessions in this regard."

Iran wants to resume uranium enrichment in the nuclear sites of Isfahan and Natanz in central Iran so it can produce its own nuclear fuel.

The EU and the United States oppose this, fearing enriched uranium might be used by the Islamic regime to produce atomic bombs. But Tehran, denying any such intentions, argues it has the right under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to the peaceful use of the technology, including making atomic fuel.

Elsewhere, a chief negotiator Cyrus Nasseri told ISNA that if the eventual European offer did not include recognition of Iran's right to enrich uranium, "we will not be able to consider it."

"The Europeans are aware what kind of proposal can be acceptable to Iran. If their proposal denies the right to undertake uranium enrichment, Iran will definitely not accept it," Nasseri said, adding the continuation of talks would be linked to the nature of the proposal.

EU officials, on the other hand, have warned resumption would leave them with no choice but to back Washington's push for Iran's case to be brought before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions on Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi also joined the two members of the negotiating team Sunday when he warned that Tehran would "make another decision" if the EU ignored "Iran's legal right to enrich uranium."

"The EU plan should not include a halt to uranium enrichment," Kharrazi told reporters on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of a conference on U.N. reform, adding, however, no details of the plan had been disclosed so far.

"The EU may try to make some changes in the plan due to the change of government in Iran, but this would be a mistake as Iran's nuclear policy has nothing to do with the executive branch and is determined by the country's highest-ranking officials," he added.

Kharrazi rejected rumors of a change in Iran's nuclear negotiating team, saying, "No change is going to be made in the team because the members of the nuclear negotiating delegation are distinguished experts."

A cause of concern inside and outside Iran has been a probable change in the team, with its chief, Hassan Rowhani, being replaced following the end of President Mohammad Khatami's term next month.

Although president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad initially vowed to keep the negotiating team appointed by his predecessor, he announced last week he would adopt a new foreign policy, including on the nuclear issue.

Analysts say Iran's nuclear program is among few matters almost all political factions in the country seem to have reached a consensus on.

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