Khamenei Urges Iran To Resist Threats On Nuclear

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by Staff Writers

Tehran (AFP) Mar 27, 2006

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urged Iranians to resist "the enemy's threats" amid international warnings for Iran to halt atomic activities. "Some of these threats may also be put in practice. A nation will be able to preserve its honor and glory in this case if it resists without retreat," Khamenei told the Basij, Iran's Islamic militia force.

"The enemy wants to dominate Iran again and today they follow the same objective by propaganda, rumors and lies about the nuclear issue," he said, referring to talks at the UN Security Council on Iran's nuclear programme.

The United States and its allies believe Iran's nuclear program conceals an effort to develop weapons and have urged it to halt sensitive uranium enrichment activities.

Iran vehemently denies the charges, saying its research is peaceful and meant to provide fuel for its power plants.

Khamenei also termed moves on the Security Council as "lining up against Iran's interests." "They call it international consensus, but the international consensus is against America's interference and war-mongering."

Iranian hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underscored Tehran's insistence on having full access to nuclear technology.

"The world must know that Iranian nation will not back down even a step from its right on the issue of nuclear technology," he told Iranians in the southern province of Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad, in a speech broadcast live on television.

Ahmadinejad also shrugged off the UN Security Council's discussions.

"Don't mind these threats, naggings, frowns and meeting after meeting ... they want to take a concession from us. Our response is that Iranian nation will not give you the least concession and is not worried that you are angry."

The UN Security Council is currently deadlocked over Iran's nuclear program.

Discussions, which began Monday, have been snagged by the refusal of Russia and China, two of the council's five veto-wielding permanent members, to consider sanctions against their ally and major trading partner in Tehran.

Source: Agence France-Presse