The controversy over the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad has endangered talks between Tehran and the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany over Iran's nuclear programmes.

US President Barack Obama declared September to be the deadline for Iran to return to nuclear negotiations, but Tehran has rejected the deadline, and Ahmadinejad said Iran would no longer talk with the West over its nuclear projects but just to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Furthermore, Ahmadinejad has rejected threats of more financial sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear programmes, saying Iran was no longer afraid of any sanctions.

Some countries fear that Iran has been engaged in a secret nuclear weapons programme that could eventually be used against Tehran's archfoe, Israel.

Iran has categorically denied the charges and said its nuclear projects are for civilian and peaceful purposes.