Iranian president reiterates no retreat from nuclear program

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated on Monday that his country would not give up "one iota" on its nuclear program, the state television reported.

In a televised speech, Ahmadinejad said that Iran demanded full utilization of nuclear energy and the demand was supported by all Iranians.

He stressed that Iran would not retreat "one iota" from its internationally acknowledged rights.

Earlier in the day, Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said that access to peaceful nuclear technology was Iran's inalienable right, the official IRNA news agency reported.

He said that Iran was ready to hold nuclear talks within the framework of international regulations.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to hold talks on issues of mutual interest," he said.

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

Iranian officials have claimed that Iran would not back down on its legitimate nuclear rights, warning the West not to imagine that the country would suspend uranium enrichment.

EU foreign ministers issued a statement on Oct. 17, saying that if Iran does not comply with UN Security Council's requirements, the EU would "work for the adoption of measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter," which stipulates economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Source: Xinhua