Ahmadinejad: Nuclear capability boosted

Iran’s nuclear capability has increased “10-fold” despite Western pressure to roll back the country’s nuclear program, the firebrand president of the country said today.

“The enemies, resorting to propaganda, want to block us from achieving (nuclear technology),” Ahmadinejad told a crowd on the southern outskirts of Tehran.

“But they should know that today, the capability of our nation has multiplied 10-fold over the same period last year.”

Ahmadinejad boasted that “the power of our enemies is less than one-tenth of their power in last year”.

The president did not elaborate, and the remarks appeared aimed primarily at rallying public support as the UN Security Council prepared to consider a draft resolution imposing limited sanctions on Iran because of its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.

Enriching uranium is a key step to producing fuel either for a nuclear reactor or for a warhead.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. The United States and some other countries have accused the Iranians of secretly seeking to build a bomb.

In the speech, Ahmadinejad repeated that Iran was ready to negotiate with the West about its nuclear ambitions but the West has insisted that Tehran first suspend enrichment.

The Iranians disregarded an August 31 deadline imposed by the Security Council to stop enrichment. They also turned down a package of incentives offered by the United States and its partners on condition that Iran ceases enrichment.

Western diplomats say they expect to circulate a draft resolution at the United Nations in the coming days that would impose limited sanctions. It remains unclear whether Russia and China – both veto-wielding permanent council members – would go along with punitive measures.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was hopeful talks with the Iranians would resume and that there was a “real chance” for a negotiated settlement without sanctions.

However, the EU external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said that Tehran had not responded positively to the incentives package and that the Security Council may need to explore “another alternative”.