Iran says will respond 'proportionally' to UN resolution vs nuclear programme |
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Mon, 19 Mar 2007 14:30
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TEHRAN (AFX) - Iran today warned a new UN resolution against its disputed nuclear programme will face a 'proportionate' response and that it is ready to pay the price for pursuing its atomic ambitions.'Adopting new resolutions by the Security Council ... will face Iran's proportionate response,' Abbas Araghchi, deputy foreign minister in legal and international affairs, said in a meeting with foreign ambassadors.'Iran is completely ready for both paths of cooperation and confrontation and as there is a precedent for paying a price to preserve its independence and rights, it is now ready to pay these prices,' he said.The UN Security Council is set to meet this week for a vote on new sanctions against Tehran for its repeated refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to make atomic weapons as well as nuclear fuel.Iran's hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he will participate in the council meeting to defend his country's nuclear rights, even though he has previously slammed the UN body as illegitimate.As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran says it has the right to enrichment and insists its nuclear programme is purely for peaceful purposes.The West fears Iran could seek to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme. Iran denies the allegation.On Wednesday the full council is to review a draft resolution agreed by its five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.The new text toughens sanctions already adopted by the council in December against Iran's missile and nuclear programmes.newsdesk@afxnews.comafp/abrCOPYRIGHTCopyright AFX News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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Iran says cuts in UN aid won't affect enrichment work UPDATE 