Iranian president defiant as nuclear deadline looms

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stood fast today in maintaining his country’s right to nuclear technology on the day of a UN deadline to roll back on its nuclear programme or face sanctions.

“The Iranian nation will not accept for one moment any bullying, invasion and violation of its rights,” Ahmadinejad told thousands in Orumiyeh in north-western Iran.

Ahmadinejad said enemies of the country were trying to stir up differences among the Iranian people, but: “I tell them: you are wrong. The Iranian nation is united.”

Ahmadinejad criticised a White House rebuff of his offer for a televised debate with President George Bush.

“They say they support dialogue and the free flow of information,” he said. “But when debate was proposed, they avoided and opposed it.”