TEHRAN, July 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran's former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said here Friday that Iran should adopt "precise strategy" to defend its legal rights to developing nuclear technology, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "We should adopt a very precise strategy to eliminate the possibility of violation of this legitimate right for Iranian nation," Rafsanjani was quoted as addressing the Friday prayer worshipers.

    Rafsanjani said it was not acceptable for the Iranian people and the government to permit Iran's legal rights to be violated. 

    "It seems the global monopolistic powers are determined to violate the legitimate right of the Iranian nation in making use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," he said.  

    "It is not acceptable for our people as well as our wise officials to let such disgrace be recorded in our history," Rafsanjani stressed.

    Rafsanjani's comments echoed the statement of President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who defeated Rafsanjani in the presidential runoff election on June 24 and is due to take oath of office early next month.

    "My government will never accept the right of the Iranian nationto enjoy nuclear energy for civilian purposes enshrined by the Non-Proliferation Treaty be violated," Ahmadinejad said on Thursday.

    The European Union (EU) promised in last nuclear talks in late May to offer Iran a comprehensive proposal in two months, including a package of economic and political incentives, to encourage Tehran to abandon nuclear ambition.

    Iran and the EU have been negotiating on Iran's controversial nuclear program since Iran suspended uranium enrichment activitiesin November 2004.

    Britain, France and Germany which negotiate on behalf of the EU has threatened to back a US demand to refer Iran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions if Tehran resumes enrichment related activities.

    The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons secretly, but Tehran rejects the charge and insists its nuclear program is purely for generation of electricity.  Enditem