Iran 'will never stop' nuclear activities

IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran would never yield to international pressure to suspend its nuclear programme. "Iran will never abandon its peaceful (nuclear) work. Our nuclear work is legal and why should we stop it?"

Ahmadinejad told state television.

Two sets of U.N. sanctions have been imposed on Iran for defying Security Council resolutions demanding it suspend all nuclear fuel activity. Ahmadinejad said any further U.N. resolutions would not prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear technology.

"Let's say they issue resolution number 300 ... what will happen? It should be remembered that Iran is obtaining nuclear technology. They have to eventually accept that," he said.

In an attempt to avert tougher sanctions, Tehran has agreed to increase cooperation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to clarify the scope of its atomic work.

Iran agreed during negotiations with the IAEA on Tuesday to let U.N. inspectors revisit its Arak nuclear reactor site early next week.

Tehran has warned Washington, which has led efforts to isolate Iran over its nuclear programme, to back off from broader sanctions, saying such measures would harm new diplomatic opportunities.

Tehran, Thursday, Reuters.