Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Iran would defend its nuclear program, describing his country as a potential role model for others trying to develop advanced technology.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
State television reported his speech to a crowd in a northern Iranian town, delivered a day after the UN nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had not heeded the world body's demand to roll back its nuclear program.
"The Iranian nation has resisted all bullies and corrupt powers and it will fully defend its all rights," the broadcast quoted Mr Ahmadinejad as telling people in Fuman. It did not say whether the president elaborated.
President Ahmadinejad declared that if his country reaches the "peaks of technology and science, then it will be a role model" for other countries, state television quoted him as saying, apparently referring to nuclear power.
Meanwhile, key countries are to meet next week to try to develop a new UN resolution on the standoff over Iran's nuclear programme.
The meeting follows the publication of a report yesterday to the Security Council and its 35-nation board by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which indicated that Tehran has continued to build a heavy water reactor and related facilities.
In addition, the report said Iran ignored a Security Council call to co-operate with the IAEA in its efforts to shed light on suspicious nuclear activities.
Although widely expected, the report has prompted the council to start deliberating on new sanctions intended to punish Tehran for its perceived intransigence.
However, speaking in Tehran, the deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammed Saeedi, said Iran was legally entitled to develop nuclear technologies and ruled out suspending enrichment.
He said such demands were against Iran's rights, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and international regulations.
US undersecretary of state Nicholas Burns said he hopes the United States and other permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, can quickly draft a resolution to "see Iran repudiated again."
He said it was too soon to say what provisions the resolution might contain.
The council issued three demands to Iran in December - freeze uranium enrichment, stop building heavy water facilities and fully co-operate with the IAEA.
It introduced limited sanctions and gave Iran 60 days to comply - a deadline that expired on Wednesday.