tehran -- iranian political circles were abuzz with rumors tuesday that a state of emergency could be declared in the country to protect against "american threats," with reformers saying such a move would be tantamount to a coup against them.

"the possibility of a state of emergency (being declared) exists, and that would be a form of coup d'etat against the reformist camp," the khorassan daily cited prominent reformist karim argandepour as saying.

"certain extremists in the conservative camp are seeking to create such an exceptional situation," he added.

argandepour is editor-in-chief of the suspended daily norouz, mouthpiece of the islamic iran participation front, the main pro-reform party headed by president mohammad khatami's brother, which has a majority in parliament.

abbas abdi, a member of the iipf central committee, was quoted by the centrist entekhab daily, as saying "some people are seeking to create a state of emergency on the grounds of american threats but they are in fact acting in line with us interests".

the issue has also raised anxiety among members of the traditional reformist association of combattant clerics (acc).

"some want to declare a state of emergency to avoid a crisis. we have heard that some (conservatives) in a letter to regime leaders have asked for measures against reformist political figures, notably members of iipf", said rasul montajeb-nia, a journalist and member of the acc centeral committee.

a prominent former conservative figure and publisher of entekhab, taha hashemi, confirmed that he had heard rumors that such a move might be in the offing.

"i have information about a supposed letter from conservative leaders calling for the declaration of a state of emergency," hashemi said.

"i do not know if it is true. whatever the case, the leaders of the regime always decide on the basis of the interests of the people and of the islamic republic". "if the leaders of the regime and of the security council come to this conclusion... they will notifiy the supreme leader (ayatollah ali khamenei), who can take the appropriate decision, based on the interests of the people."

hamid-reza taraqi, a former member of the conservative association of the islamic coalition (aic), said "there is no need to exaggerate; it is not at all neccessary to declare an emergency state".

the head of the aic, habibollah asgaroladi last month called on leaders of the iipf who were criticizing the judiciary, especially for its crackdown on the press and for its political trials, "not to deviate from the path of imam khomeini", founder of the islamic republic.

in a letter to iipf leader mohammad-reza khatami, he warned: "i hope the destiny of your party and your name in iran's history will not be written beside those who confronted the revolution and the people.

"some can think that you have convergences with the united states", he added.

at a july 17 iipf meeting, mohammad-reza admitted that "us threats" had "changed the situation" in iran and called for unity in the country.

he launched a strong attack on the powerful conservatives, warning against the "return of despotism and dictatorship" if changes were not allowed to succeed.

on sunday, khamenei denounced what he said was the "cowboy culture" of us leaders and their threats against iran.

"us leaders' spirit of adventure is inspired by their cowboy culture," khamenei said.

"if the americans feel that they are confronted with a unified nation, they will hesitate to launch an adventure in iran", khamenei said, underlining that "it is necessary to take the us threats seriously.

"these threats have existed since the islamic revolution, and they do not mean that a us attack is certain, but the realization of these threats depends on our behaviour", he said.

the united states is trying to "destroy the iranian regime but it is a very difficult job", he added.

iran remains the target of us-led economic sanctions and was listed by us president george w. bush as part of an "axis of evil" along with iraq and north korea earlier this year.

a state of emergency has never been declared in iran since the islamic revolution of 1979, even during its eight-year war with iraq in the 1980s, and none of the sources suggested what it might entail if it were declared.

iran's conservative camp, which has been defeated in all public elections still keeps main levers of power in hand including army forces and judiciary.