Tehran: Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said that Iran had the 'appropriate tools' to confront Western pressure in the dispute over its nuclear programme.

 "If they (Western countries) think they can put pressure on us, then they should know that other countries also have appropriate tools to confront such pressures," said Larijani, who is also secretary of the National Security Council, in remarks reported by sources.

Larijani did not evaluate further but Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri- Hamaneh had said Tuesday that Iran would not rule out using oil as a weapon following a recent decision by the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on the Islamic state over its nuclear programmes.

On accelerating work on nuclear programmes as called for in a parliamentary bill approved earlier Wednesday, Larijani said that if Iran's right to civilian nuclear energy was not recognised, Tehran would continue its work.

"The IAEA has already been informed of our operations and nothing has been concealed," the nuclear chief said referring to Iran's announcement that it would soon install 3000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

The UN resolution was approved because the United States wanted to humiliate Iran, Larijani said Wednesday, adding that contrary to the US aim, such moves have just made us stronger.