Iran Will Never Stop Developing Nuclear Program

The Associated Press, Dow Jones Newswires:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Wednesday that his country would never give up its nuclear program, state television reported.

Ahmadinejad said the government wouldn't bow to international pressure.

"This nation will never give up its right to use peaceful nuclear energy. Our enemies have to know that the Iranian people will develop their nuclear technology to the limit," the television quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a crowd of thousands in Ilam province, 800 kilometers southwest of Tehran. READ MORE

Iran has been under intense pressure to curb its nuclear program, which the U.S. claims is part of an effort to produce nuclear weapons. Iran denies such intentions, saying its program is aimed at generating electricity.

"Those whose arsenal is full of weapons of mass destruction are trying to deprive the Iranian people of their rights. The people will not allow their rights to be trampled on," Ahmadinejad said, speaking at a stop on a two-day tour of the provinces.

"International propaganda and political pressure will not affect Iran's will to achieve (nuclear) technology," he added.

World pressure has focussed on Iran's program to enrich uranium, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or the material used in atomic bombs.

Earlier this week, Iran said a proposed meeting with European negotiators next month should include a guarantee that Iran's enrichment program remain inside the country. The statement rejected a compromise proposal under which Iranian enrichment would be moved to Russia to ensure that the product couldn't be secretly diverted for weapons.

The negotiations, slated to start Dec. 6, are with U.K., French and German officials. The compromise of moving the enrichment to Russia had been touted as the offer most likely to resolve Iran's dispute with the international community.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned Iran that its nuclear program could be referred to the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions on the country.