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Iran remains defiant despite threats of more UN sanctions

Iran yesterday defied threats of further UN sanctions after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed its controversial atomic program was expanding, saying the drive would not pause even "for a moment."

"The enemies aim to prevent us from using peaceful nuclear technology, not for scientific reasons, but because they want to eradicate the roots of the principles of the Islamic republic," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.

"Therefore, if we stop even for a moment they will achieve their aims," he told a group of elite Revolutionary Guard commanders, Iranian news agencies said.

The UN watchdog said on Wednesday that Iran was defying UN Security Council demands to stop enriching uranium and is expanding the work, leading the way for world powers to discuss a new sanctions package.

Immediately after the report was published, the US urged new sanctions against Iran, in addition to the two sets of measures agreed on by the UN Security Council in December and March over its defiance.

"With the backing of the Iranian nation, we are not afraid of the enemies' psychological wars," said Ahmadinejad, who was marking the anniversary of the liberation of a major Iranian port city in the 1980 to 1988 Iran-Iraq war.

"With God's help and power we are getting closer to our final aims because the enemy is exerting its last pressure on the Islamic republic and it will have no result," he said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said that "Iran has not suspended its enrichment related activities," ignoring the latest deadline by the UN Security Council, which expired at midnight.

The crux of the standoff is Iran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a sensitive process as it can be used both to make nuclear fuel and highly enriched uranium for the explosive core of an atomic bomb.

The US accuses Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, but the Islamic republic insists it just wants to generate energy for a growing population.

Washington has always said it wants to resolve the crisis through diplomacy but has never ruled out military action to bring Tehran to heel and on Wednesday appeared to send a clear warning to Iran through its navy.

The nuclear-powered carriers USS John Stennis and USS Nimitz sailed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf along with a helicopter carrier and amphibious assault ships.
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