Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that his country would never give in to western pressure over Tehran's nuclear program and the nation's movement could not be obstructed, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Ahmadinejad made the comment at a speech in the northeastern city of Mashad days before a planned visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Chief Mohamed ElBaradei later this week.

"The enemies must know that they can not hinder the nation's progress, through hue and cry, frowning or intimidation," said Ahmadinejad, referring to the nation's nuclear program.

"Be certain that your government will follow the wishes of the people, and will not retreat for one inch," the flinty president was quoted as saying.

Tensions over Iran's nuclear issue have been further escalated as U.S. media reported over the weekend about plans for possible military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.

An article published by the latest issue of the New Yorker magazine asserted that the Pentagon has presented the White House with an option to use bunker-buster nuclear bombs against Iran's underground nuclear site.

The UN Security Council on March 29 adopted a presidential statement that urges the Islamic Republic to re-suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment in 30 days. Iranian officials have repeatedly voiced that the country would never compromise.

ElBaradei's upcoming visit to Iran has been viewed as a last-ditch effort to ease the escalating tension over Iran's nuclear issue as he is expected to submit a report on Iran's compliance with the Security Council's demand at the end of this month.