Iranian president pledges to push ahead with nuclear power

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today pledged to push ahead with his country’s nuclear programme.

As a UN deadline expired, Mr Ahmadinejad said his people would not bow to Western intimidation.

Mr Ahmadinejad added that it was worth stopping all other development projects in Iran to attain nuclear power, which he said would push his country ahead by 50 years.

“The enemy is making a big mistake if it thinks it can thwart the will of the Iranian nation to achieve the peaceful use of nuclear technology,” he was quoted as saying on the official state television website.

The UN set a deadline of today for Iran to suspend enrichment, a crucial process that can produce either fuel for a nuclear reactor or material for a warhead.

The West has also insisted Iran must suspend enrichment before it will enter any negotiations over its nuclear programme – a condition Tehran has staunchly rejected as it pushes ahead with developing its enrichment facilities.

“Attaining the peaceful use of nuclear technology will push our nation 50 years along the path of progress,” Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in the northern city of Siahkal.

“Corrupt powers should know that the Iranian nation will exploit the advantages of peaceful nuclear technology as soon as possible.”

Iran insists that its nuclear programme is peaceful, but the United States and other Western countries accuse it of intending to build weapons.

“To reach nuclear technology, it is worth stopping 10 years worth of the other development projects in the country,” Mr Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.