[JURIST] Ahmad Jannati, head of Iran's powerful Guardian Council [official website], on Friday called for the abolition of the United Nations and the UN Security Council [official website] because of its prejudicial stance towards Iran. Jannati complained that the Security Council failed to pass a resolution condemning Israel for alleged war crimes [JURIST report] in the ongoing Middle East conflict [JURIST news archive] with Hezbollah, but had no problem passing a unified resolution asking Iran to halt its nuclear program [JURIST report].

The Security Council passed Resolution 1696 [text] on Monday, giving Iran until August 31 to halt uranium enrichment. The resolution threatens sanctions if it does not comply, although it requires additional Security Council discussion before sanctions can actually be imposed. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [official profile, English version] on Tuesday said "the peaceful use of nuclear fuel production technology" is Iran's "right," and promised not to give in to UN pressure. Meanwhile Friday, Manouchehr Mohammadi, one of Iran's deputy foreign ministers, also spoke out against double standards in the Security Council and reiterated Iran's position that the resolution is illegal [IRNA report]. Reuters has more.