TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said Saturday that Iran pursues a policy that will make itself a regional power, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "No power does ever take shape without the capability of resistance ... and we can promote the potential for resistance in the country," Shamkhani was quoted as saying in a report released by the Ministry of Defense.

    "Fundamental strategies are needed on the domestic scene while in our relations with the world we need to proceed with authority," Shamkhani said.

    The comments came one day after US President George W. Bush refused to rule out the use of force against Iran over its recent resumption of uranium conversion activities.

    Defying a recent European nuclear proposal, Iran resumed some activities of the uranium conversion in the central city of Isfahan on Aug. 8 and further unsealed and fully restarted the facilities on Aug. 10 regardless of warnings of the European Unionand the United States.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency adopted a resolution on Thursday, urging Iran to halt the sensitive nuclear activities.

    However, Iran rejected the resolution as politically motivated and tyrannical.

    The United States has accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons secretly, a charge denied by Tehran. Enditem