TEHRAN, Jan 15: Iran said on Wednesday it did not expect any US-led attack on Iraq to start before the Haj and warned US troops to be prepared for house-to-house fighting in case of an invasion.

Iran also said it would put its own interests first in the Iraq crisis, taking no sides in the conflict between its two longtime foes, Baghdad and Washington.

Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said he did not expect war to start before the Haj, to be performed next month.

“The pilgrimage (Haj) time is not a proper time to attack an Islamic country,” Shamkhani told reporters.

He also warned Washington to expect a tough battle if it did decide to go after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

“I believe the Iraqi regime in Baghdad will fight the Americans house-by-house,” he said.

Torn between its hatred of Saddam and deep distrust of Washington, Iran has several national interest concerns in case of a war at its doorstep.

“Iran’s stand is crystal clear. We are neither supporting the United States nor Iraq. We are concerned with our own national interests. We are impartial but not indifferent,” Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told parliament on Wednesday.

Iranian officials fear war in Iraq would destabilize the oil-rich region and force Iran to cope with waves of Iraqi refugees.

A post-Saddam, pro-US Iraq would complete Iran’s encirclement by states friendly to Washington. Greater autonomy or even independence for Iraq’s Kurds could cause unrest among Iran’s own Kurdish population.

IRAN NEXT ON WASHINGTON’S LIST?: There are also some in the Islamic Republic who fear Washington could turn its spotlight on Iran after dealing with Saddam, although officials play down that threat.