Ahmadinejad vows to continue nuclear activities

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today vowed that Iran would defend its nuclear programme.

He described Iran as a potential role model for others trying to develop advanced technology.

State television reported the hard-liner president’s speech to a crowd gathered in a northern Iranian town, made a day after the UN nuclear watchdog reported that Iran had not heeded the world body’s demand to roll back its nuclear programme.

“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 on the means of defence Iran would use.

Mr Ahmadinejad declared that if his country reached 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.

State television did not report whether Mr Ahmadinejad mentioned the report on Iran given yesterday by International Atomic Energy Agency to the United Nations Security Council.

The IAEA told the council Iran had ignored a UN Security Council ultimatum to freeze uranium enrichment and has instead expanded its programme by setting up nearly 1,000 centrifuges.

The report said Tehran had also continued to build a heavy water reactor and related facilities. It also said Iran ignored a Security Council call to cooperate with the IAEA in its efforts to shed light on suspicious nuclear activities.

The conclusions are the basis for the council to deliberate additional sanctions meant to punish Tehran for its nuclear intransigence.

The key countries are to meet next week to develop a new UN resolution on the stand-off.

The council issued three demands to Iran when it adopted its resolution on December 23 – freeze uranium enrichment, stop building heavy water facilities and fully cooperate with the IAEA.

It introduced limited economic sanctions and gave Iran 60 days to comply – a deadline that expired on Wednesday.

The United States and its Western allies have insisted Iran must suspend enrichment before it will enter any negotiations over its nuclear program – a condition Tehran has rejected as it pushes ahead with developing its enrichment facilities.

Iran insists that its nuclear programme is peaceful, but the United States and other Western countries accuse it of using it as a cover to develop weapons.