"Those among the intelligentsia who support America’s attack on Iran should mind that Iran is not Afghanistan where a warmongering, hegemonistic power could intervene militarily without punishment", Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, a powerful member of the influential Council of Guardians told worshippers.

Though he did not say who in Iran has ever backed the American threats, but analysts said he was obviously referring to a recent proposal by Senator Joseph Biden to meet with Iranian counterparts, a suggestion that was welcomed by some Iranian reformists, including Majles deputies, but rejected by Ayatollah Ali Khameneh'i, the leader of the Islamic Republic.

While the government official spokesman had said the government, meaning the embattled President Hojjatoleslam Mohammad Khatami, would not oppose Iranian lawmakers to respond positively to Senator Biden’s proposals, Ayatollah Khameneh’i, immediately corrected the fire, ruling out categorically any dialogue with Washington, saying that talking to the United States "would not solve any problems".

Alongside the government, several reformist deputies had also welcomed Senator Biden’s invitation, considering talking to their American counterparts as a "positive step" for both peoples.

Washington has cut off all relations with the Islamic Republic after revolutionary students stormed the American embassy in Tehran in November 1979 and took 55 American diplomats and staff as hostage for 444 days.

In a speech to officials made days before the New Year, Mr. Khameneh'i said those who backs dialogue with Washington are talking from a position of "weakness and intimidation".

"Addressing the Friday prayer in Qom, located 135 km to the south of Tehran, Ayatollah Amini added that what was recently expressed by President Khatami was underlined by the Revolution Leader, which indicates that there is no difference of views between them", the official news agency IRNA commented.

"Inviting" all Iranian officials to "stay united", Ayatollah Yazdi, known for his arrogance and the vulgarity of the language, told reformers who back dialogue with American lawmakers that in these "very sensitive situation, one had no right to do or to say something that he would regret afterward, saying sorry, I made a mistake, please, forgive me", he warned, referring to President George W. Bush's accusing the Islamic Republic as an "evil State" alongside Iraq and North Korea.

"You who are in an official position, you who are an influential personality, you who thing of yourself as a responsible man, you who run a newspaper or have a strong pencil, you who addresses crowds from tribunes in conferences, think carefully about what you are saying or writing, have in mind that there is no room for redemption and pardon afterward", Ayatollah Yazdi, a former Judiciary Chief warned the reformists in his sermon.

Analysts said the harshness of Ayatollah Yazdi’s tone against the reformists heralds a less tolerant attitude from the conservatives in the coming months. 

Warning Washington to "shake off" its domineering air and stop intimidating other countries, Ayatollah Yazdi, taking cue from the leader’s recent speech, said "America thinks that since it has power it could bring the world to its knees, but it is ignorant of the fact that power alone is not the solution to problems".

"They (the Americans) first attracted the world public opinion in the name of fighting terrorism and today, they are threatening other countries with atomic weapons", the prominent cleric said, referring to recent reports in the American press that the Pentagon had draw up contingency plans to use nuclear weapons, in specific conditions and areas against specific nations, such as China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria, denouncing the menace as "unwise".

"You may reduce many to dust and blood and kill many innocent people, but stay assured that this will not solve your problem and the world will not give in," Ayatollah Yazdi, IRNA quoted him as having "advised" US officials.

"As true followers of Imam Hosein, Iranians prefer a dignified death to servitude" he said, referring to the third imam of the Shia Muslims who was martyred 1,300 years ago and considered as the symbol of resistance and righteousness.

The Friday preacher of Oroomiyeh, the capital city of the East Azarbaijan province, also attacked the reformers, saying they are a "liability" of the American arrogance.

Known for the utter non senses he ushers during the sermons, speeches that are the subject of jokes by Iranian satirists who imitates him, the ayatollah, who is also a representative of the leader, attacked reformists, saying if they had power, they would change the Constitution that is based on the concept of "velayat faqih", a position held by his boss, Ayatollah Khameneh'i.

Addressing those among the reformists who had welcomed Mr. Biden’s proposals, he said: "O you who write to the Americans calling on them to talk, don’t you know that the Americans holds you as worthless people, which you are, or you wouldn’t call for referendum", he noted. ENDS CLERICS US THREATS 22302