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Iran not to give up full nuclear fuel cycle: president
17/8/2006 10:12

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that his country would not give up its right of developing a full nuclear fuel cycle, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Those who think they can deprive Iran of its right to peaceful nuclear technology are on the wrong track," the outspoken Iranian president told a rally in Iran's northwestern city of Bileh Savar.

"I declare to the world that Iran is able to achieve further breakthroughs given the efforts and determination of its people and youth," he said.

The United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under a civilian front, a charge categorically denied by Tehran which says that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The UN Security Council on July 31 adopted a resolution urging Tehran to "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development" by Aug. 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.

Ahmadinejad, who is on a tour to Iran's northwestern cities, said Tuesday that his country would not accept the UN Security Council resolution aimed at helping to solve the Iran nuclear issue.

He also reiterated on Tuesday that Iran would respond on Aug.22 to the international package of incentives to suspend uranium enrichment that was offered by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Wednesday expressed the country's willingness to discuss suspension of nuclear enrichment activities with the European states.

"Even it is not logical for them to demand a suspension of our nuclear activities, we can still discuss it," Mottaki told reporters after meeting with his visiting Malian counterpart Mokhtar Ouan.



Xinhua News