Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during a press conference in Tehran, capital of Iran, Aug. 29, 2006. Ahmadinejad told the press conference that using nuclear energy was Iran's right and Iran wanted to use it according to international law.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

     TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that his country will continue to pursue peaceful nuclear program even though the UN Security Council has demand a suspension of its uranium enrichment.

    "Using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is Iran's right. The Iranian nation has chosen this path...No one can stop it," he told a press conference in Tehran.

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

    Iran has rejected the resolution as having no legal basis. The Iranian president told the reporters that Tehran still expects a positive outcome of its response to a six-nation nuclear package.

    "I think the opportunity Iran has given to other countries is very exceptional for a fair resolution of the issue," Ahmadinejad said.

    The package, agreed on by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, includes both incentives aimed at persuading Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if Iran does not comply.

    Iran's top nuclear negotiator ALi Larijani delivered Teheran's written response to the incentives package on Aug. 22 and urged the six world powers to get back to negotiations, saying Iran was ready to start "serious talks" over its nuclear program.

    Ahmadinejad said that it was "unlikely" the UN Security Council would act against Iran over its nuclear issue, but if it does, Iran will react in its proper ways.

    "The time of using Security Council as tools to impose injustice on us and other countries is over," he added.

    "If they (the United States and Britain) try to test the old ways to impose sanctions on us, our people will response to them in proper ways," vowed the Iranian president. Enditem