Iran defiant ahead of UN report


Mr Ahmedinejad said Iranians should not be denied their rights

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says his country "does not give a damn" about UN resolutions seeking to curb Tehran's nuclear programme.


He was speaking as the Security Council prepared to receive a report from the UN nuclear watchdog on whether Iran had met demands to halt uranium enrichment.

Iran insists it will not abandon its right to enrich nuclear fuel for what it says are wholly peaceful purposes.
The US says the UN must take action if Iran is found not to have complied.

The US secretary of state says the Security Council's credibility is on the line over its handling of the issue.
The US fears Iran will use the fuel to build a nuclear bomb and has not ruled out armed action against Iran.

'Unity and firmness'

President Ahmadinejad told a rally in north-west Iran on Friday: "Those who want to prevent Iranians from obtaining their right, should know that we do not give a damn about such resolutions."

IRAN CRISIS: NEXT STEPS
2 May: Negotiators from US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany meet in Paris
3 May: Possible Security Council meeting to discuss IAEA report
9 May: Foreign ministers from US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany meet at UN



The BBC's Frances Harrison in Tehran says that in the past few days Iranian rhetoric has intensified as it has become clear the nuclear watchdog's report on Tehran will not be positive.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei is likely to say that Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment and is blocking IAEA inquiries.

Such moves are in defiance of a UN resolution a month ago.
Washington is trying to rally support from the Security Council for tougher action, including sanctions.

HAVE YOUR SAY
It is very unlikely that Iranian people can accept a permanent ban on enrichment


Amir, UK



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Speaking at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the council's credibility would be tested over how it dealt with Iran.

"The Security Council is the primary and most important institution for the maintenance of peace and stability and security and it cannot have its word and its will simply ignored by a member state," she said.
Her call was backed by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, who said the world had to show "unity and firmness" towards Iran.

Courses of action

The BBC News website's world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says if the IAEA confirms that Iran has not suspended its enrichment activities, the next move in the Security Council is expected to be an attempt by Western countries to make the demand a mandatory one.

NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

Mined uranium ore is purified and reconstituted into solid form known as yellowcake
Yellowcake is chemically processed and converted into a gas by heating it to above 64C (147F)
Gas is fed through centrifuges, where its isotopes separate and process is repeated until uranium is enriched
Low-level enriched uranium is used for nuclear fuel
Highly enriched uranium can be used in nuclear weapons



In depth: Nuclear fuel cycle


He says this would be in the form of a Security Council resolution, but one that would not threaten sanctions because of opposition from Russia and China.

If Iran ignored such a resolution, the US and other Western members including the UK might press for a warning to Iran and a deadline for compliance, though this would have to be approved by Russia and China first, he adds.

At the same time, it would be made clear to Iran that it could expect help with a civil nuclear power programme if it gave up enrichment, he says.
If action in the Security Council fails, then sanctions outside the UN would be considered by those willing to take part, our correspondent adds.

Iran says it has the right to peaceful nuclear technology and denies Western claims that it is seeking weapons.
Tehran has vowed to hit US targets worldwide if subjected to a US military attack.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also said this week Iran was ready to share its nuclear technology with other nations.

Wait... I know it's here somewhere... I had it earlier.... I think it's right over...

....____....
.../NUKE\...
...l IRAN l...
...\____/...

Ah, there it is... *pets button* I thought I lost you.