Iran Refuses to be Bullied by US Over Nuclear Program
21 March 2006
Iran says it will not be bullied by the United States over its controversial nuclear program and dismissed the threat of United Nations Security Council action.
In a televised speech Tuesday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran will not accept decisions by the Council that are against the country's interests.
He spoke hours after President Bush stressed that Iran must understand it cannot be allowed to make nuclear weapons, for the security of the world.
The United States, Russia, China and the so-called EU-3 - Britain, Germany and France - have failed to agree on how to press Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and comply with international standards. That lack of agreement forced the postponement of today's scheduled Security Council meeting on Iran.
The United States, Britain and France want International Atomic Energy Agency Director Mohamed ElBaradei to quickly report on Iran's nuclear program to the Council. But Russia and China are urging a slower pace to ease concerns that tough action could prompt Tehran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The United States suspects Iran is seeking to build a nuclear weapon - a charge Tehran denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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