Reply #4: 20 minutes ago: Iran Vows Not to Give Up Nuclear Program [View All]

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/93-09012006-706173.html

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran underlined its disregard Friday for the now-expired U.N. deadline to halt uranium enrichment when its president vowed never to give up its nuclear program and accused the West of misrepresenting Tehran's nuclear activities.

Iran had until midnight Thursday to halt its enrichment activities or face the possibility of economic sanctions under a U.N. Security Council resolution passed July 31.

Although the U.N. nuclear watchdog reported Thursday that Iran has not halted enrichment, thereby opening the way for punitive measures, U.S. and other officials said no action would be sought before a key European diplomat meets with Tehran's atomic chief next week to seek a compromise.

On Friday, in the first comments by an Iranian official since the deadline passed, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, told a rally, "Exploitation of peaceful nuclear energy is our obvious right. We will never give up our legal right."

"The West's claim that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons is a sheer lie," state TV quoted him as telling the gathering in Maku, northwestern Iran. "The West basically opposes progress by Iran."