Iran leader in UN nuclear warning

March 21, 2006
BBC 
Original Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4831236.stm
 	 
 
Iran's supreme spiritual leader has said his country will not accept any UN Security Council ruling on its nuclear plans that goes against its interests. 

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran had an absolute right to nuclear technology. 

The Security Council is considering what action to take on Iran's uranium enrichment activities. 

Ayatollah Khamenei also said Iran was prepared to hold talks with the US over Iraq but warned it would not submit to bullying by Washington. 

Draft statement 

Ayatollah Khamenei said Iran would reject any United Nations measures aimed at stopping his country from pursuing what Tehran insists is a peaceful nuclear energy programme. 

We had experience of the Security Council [threats] at the time of the [Iranian] war with Iraq. Whatever is against the interest of the country we will not accept, he said. 
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The five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany are this week continuing to search for a common position on how to deal with Iran's nuclear activities. 

Britain, France and the United States are backing a draft council statement that would call for Iran to suspend its sensitive nuclear activities. 

We emphasise that nuclear technology and the nuclear fuel cycle is our absolute right, Ayatollah Khamenei said. 

The ayatollah also said Iran was open to a dialogue with the US on the situation in Iraq, but warned: If it means opening a scene for the cunning Americans to continue their bullying, the negotiations with the Americans on Iraq will be forbidden. 

He said a meeting with the US would allow Iran to tell Washington it should leave Iraq and allow Iraqis to govern themselves unhindered. 

US President George W Bush has backed the dialogue as a means to tell Iran what's right or wrong in their activities inside Iraq. 

No date has been set for a meeting but both nations have said it would not include any discussion of the nuclear issue.