TEHRAN CONTINUES TO ENRICH URANIUM

    Nuclear technology is a double-bladed sword: peacefully utilized, it can generate relatively clean energy to ease the world's hefty dependence on fossil fuels, but once used as weapons, it is horrifically destructive as has been proved.

    This aids an understanding of the disputes surrounding Iran's nuclear programs, which the United States suspects are aimed at developing weapons but Tehran insists are for peaceful purposes.

    For two years, the Islamic republic has refused to make concessions over its nuclear program, and Tehran defied a UN deadline of Aug. 31 to stop its uranium enrichment.

    Hopes for a diplomatic settlement of Iran's nuclear standoff were kindled earlier this year, when six world powers reached a consensus on offering Iran incentives in exchange for suspension of its uranium enrichment.

    U.S. President George W. Bush also expressed his willingness to join the European talks with Tehran, a move hailed by some as "a major U.S. policy shift" on Iran.

    However, Washington would only join the talks if Tehran suspended its uranium enrichment program, while the Iranian side was never ready for the suspension, insisting on "negotiations without any precondition."

    The Iranian foreign ministry said Tehran had planned to install more centrifuges to increase the total number to 3,000 by March 2007. However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants even more. In November, he said his country aspired to eventually have 60,000 centrifuges for uranium enrichment.

    While delegates from the United States, Britain, Russia, China, France and Germany were talking over sanctions against Iran, Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Tehran was determined to continue its nuclear activities despite looming punishment.