The Iranian president has said Iran cannot abandon its nuclear programme when the United States develops atomic bombs, a news agency reported today.
"How can the Iranian nation give up its obvious right to peaceful nuclear technology, when America and some other countries test new atomic bombs each year?" Mahmoud Ahmadinejad asked in a speech to a rally in the northwestern city of Namin.
US officials accuse Iran of pursuing atomic weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear programme. Iran says it is not developing bombs but is seeking nuclear technology for power generation.
Iran has set an August 22nd deadline to respond to a demand by six world powers that Tehran give up uranium enrichment in return for economic and other incentives. Iran has so far shown no signs it will accept.
Tehran has vowed to expand its atomic fuel activities despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding it halt nuclear work by August 31st or face the threat of sanctions.