Iran challengers sanctions threat

    BEIJING, Aug. 31 -- Iran's president has challenged US President George W. Bush to a televised debate on world issues. And he said his country will not renounce the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

    President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused the US and Britain of being the "source of many wars and tensions," and yet had the right of veto in the UN Security Council, a body "which should protect peace and security in the world."

    His comments came two days before the Security Council's deadline demanding that Tehran stop uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.

    Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said: "The peaceful use of nuclear energy is the right of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has chosen this path and wants to use it according to international rules and regulations. No one can prevent it."

    The president of the Islamic republic also challenged his US counterpart to a live, televised debate on "world issues and ways to solve problems of the international community."

    The White House dismissed Ahmadinejad's offer.

    Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to the United Nations threatened sanctions against Iran.

    John Bolton, US Ambassador to The UN said： "What we'd like to see is Iran comply with Resolution 1696 which says unequivocally that they have to suspend all of their enrichment-related activities. Now, they have until the 31st of August, but we've made it very clear, unless we get an unequivocal acceptance of that condition in the Security Council resolution, that sanctions will follow."

    So far, Iran has refused any immediate suspension, calling the deadline illegal.

    (Source: CCTV)