JURIST - Paper Chase: Iran says it will continue to expand nuclear program by right

[JURIST] Chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani [BBC profile] said Sunday that Iran will continue to expand its uranium enrichment program despite the UN Security Council resolution [JURIST report] setting an August 31 deadline for the country to halt nuclear activities. Larijani stated that "such resolutions won't have any impact on our behavior" and that Iran's expansion of its nuclear technology is within its legitimate right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) [text, PDF]. On Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [official profile, English version; BBC profile] similarly dismissed the UN Security Council resolution [JURIST report] stating that "the peaceful use of nuclear fuel production technology" is Iran's "right." Larijani questioned the motives of the UN Security Council, stating that "They should know that such resolutions will not have any effect on our resolve and if they are after depriving Iran of nuclear technology, they are mistaken."

Resolution 1696 [text], adopted Monday by a 14-1 vote, allows the Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran if it does not abide by the August 31 deadline, but only after more discussion within the council. AP has more. From Iran, IRNA has local coverage.

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