President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday Iran will continue its suspect nuclear program even if that means ending inspections by the U.N. nuclear agency.
"We've made our choice: yes to peaceful nuclear technology, no to atomic weapons," Khatami told a military parade in Tehran.
"We will continue along our path even if it leads to an end to international supervision" of nuclear activities, the president said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has demanded that Iran forgo uranium enrichment and answer all questions about its nuclear activities within two months.
Failure to do so could result in the agency referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
"They have to explicitly recognize our natural and legal right (to peaceful nuclear energy) to open the way for greater understanding and cooperation," Khatami said.
"We've made our choice. Now it is up to others to make their choice," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
