(ANSA) - Rome, February 9 - Around a hundred members of an Iranian pro-government volunteer militia attempted to attack the Italian embassy in Tehran on Tuesday but were held back by police, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told parliament.

Frattini said activists of the Basiji had organised a ''hostile'' demonstration outside the diplomatic mission and then tried to force their way inside, shouting ''death to Italy, death to (Italian premier Silvio) Berlusconi''.

Iranian police intervened and stopped them, avoiding any damage to the embassy, which remained open, Frattini said.

Similar demonstrations were organised outside the French, German and Dutch embassies, ANSA's correspondent from Tehran reported.

Frattini made his remarks while addressing a joint session of the Senate and House foreign affairs committee on the situation in Iran.

During his briefing, the foreign minister said that while Italy would prefer a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program, it realised that tougher sanctions on Tehran would be necessary of no other solution was found.

He said the government would not send any representatives to the official February 11 celebrations in Tehran marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Italy is concerned over possible ''acts of violence and repression'' against the Iranian opposition if it attempts to demonstrate on Thursday, he said.

''We will not tolerate scenes of innocent civilians beaten by police because they want to freely express their beliefs,'' the minister said. European Affairs Minister Andrea Ronchi said the government would not be intimidated and would continue to support the Iranian opposition.

''The assault against the Italian embassy is a serious and unacceptable action,'' he said.

''Italy will not waver from its policy of firmness and will continue to back Iranian citizens who, although risking their lives, hold demonstrations to demand their right to freedom, democracy and respect of human rights,'' he said, calling for a prompt response from the European Union .

The Basiji are a paramilitary volunteer militia made up mostly of young people and while subordinate to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards are totally loyal to Iran's supreme leader, the Ayatollah Ali Hoseyni Khamenei.

Observers believe Tuesday's demonstration may have been in response to Berlusconi's remarks in Israel last week that Iran ''is a state which is led by someone (President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) who recalls evil figures from the past''.

During his visit, the Italian premier also voiced the hope that the international community would approve ''strong sanctions'' capable of dissuading the Iranian leadership from developing nuclear weapons.

Italy, he added, has already begun to reduce its economic ties with Iran and the national fuels group ENI would cease collaborating with Iran on the development of an important oil field once an existing contract had been respected. Tehran responded by accusing Berlusconi of interfering in Iran's domestic affairs and pandering to Israel.

ITALIAN AMBASSADOR TO TEHRAN SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY.

Italy's ambassador in Tehran, Alberto Bradanini, was summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry on Sunday to receive a formal protest over Berlusconi's remarks.

Informed local sources who demanded anonymity told the ANSA correspondent in Tehran that Iranian officials were particularly irked by Berlusconi's call to support the Iranian opposition.

Flanking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the end of his visit to Israel last Tuesday, Berlusconi said ''It is our duty to sustain and help the opposition in Iran''.

Referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the premier said he no longer enjoyed the support he claimed after last year's rigged elections which sparked bloody protests. ''The opposition to him is strong,'' Berlusconi said.