Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, said tonight the country would pursue its right to develop nuclear technology, and hinted it would not suspend uranium enrichment as the West demands.
"Our policy is clear, progress with clear logic and insisting on the nation's right without any retreat," state television quoted him as saying, in reference to Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran dismissed media reports last week that it might be ready to freeze atomic fuel manufacturing work for 90 days to allow direct negotiations with the United States and other major powers.
The United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany agreed in London on Friday to discuss possible UN Security Council sanctions to punish Iran for failing to heed demands to halt uranium enrichment.
Iran had earlier suspended enrichment under a deal agreed with the European Union but that deal broke down last year.
"Two years ago, when we started suspending uranium enrichment, if we didn't experience that path, we would have blamed ourselves for not testing that path," Mr Khamenei told a meeting of high-ranking government officials including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"But today, we are going ahead with courage because no one can provide an acceptable reason why Iran's nuclear path is wrong, as we have experienced the other path."
These were his first public remarks on the nuclear issue since the London talks.
Iran says its nuclear programme will be used only for peaceful purposes and not, as the United States alleges, to make atomic weapons. Enrichment produces fuel that can be used for either purpose.
"Iran has always taken advantage of any possibility to negotiate and cooperate in the field of nuclear energy and it will continue this policy," Mr Ahmadinejad told the same meeting, the television said.
"Iran's proposal is an appropriate framework for cooperation in the nuclear issue and the Iranian nation will continue the path of dignity with perseverance and prudence without any fear."