WASHINGTON: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told US television Wednesday that more sanctions will not hurt the Islamic republic, as Western nations urged tougher action over Tehran`s nuclear program.

"Our nation does not need the United States whatsoever," Ahmadinejad told NBC news in an interview that took place in Tehran and aired in the United States Wednesday evening.

"Even if the US administration increases the sanctions... 100 times more, and even (if) the Europeans join the United States to impose heavier sanctions, we in Iran are in a position to meet our own requirements."

Instead, the Iranian president urged the UN nuclear watchdog to investigate Tehran`s arch foe Israel over its alleged nuclear weapons arsenal.

"They possess nuclear weapons, and they constantly threaten their neighbors," Ahmadinejad said. "And in the past year, they threatened Iran more than 10 times."

Earlier Wednesday, the US ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice urged tougher action on Iran and said the Islamic republic was "refusing to address our proliferation concerns and appears determined to acquire a nuclear weapon."

Amid a wave of new international concern over Iran`s activities, Britain and France also said more countries must report on how they are implementing the four rounds of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.

A US official said diplomats from six world powers that monitor Iran`s nuclear program would meet next week in New York, just over three months after the latest UN Security Council sanctions on Iran`s controversial nuclear program.

BDST: 0856 HRS, September 16, 2010