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Iran vows to defy U.N. resolution on uranium enrichment plan

William J. Broad and Elaine Sciolino

IAEA delivers report to Security Council; debate next week

NEW YORK/TEHERAN: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Friday to defy any United Nations Security Council resolution on its nuclear activities, hours before the release of a major report by atomic inspectors on the status of its nuclear programme.

Speaking at a rally in north-western Iran, Mr. Ahmadinejad said the country would not compromise with the West on its ``right'' to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and challenged the West to give up nuclear weapons.

``Enemies think they can make the Iranians give up their honourable path through propaganda, false publicity, political threats and imposition of sanctions,'' he said, according to the IRNA news agency. ``Iran is a nuclear country. This slogan that nuclear energy is our inalienable right is the outcry of the people and a national demand.'' His comments were echoed by Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a senior cleric who also made a vague threat on Friday during prayer sermons in Teheran.

On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency delivered to the Security Council a report expected to be highly critical of Iran's compliance with demands that it stop enriching uranium. The Security Council is expected to meet, probably next week, to debate what, if any, punitive action to take against Iran.

Oil prices rise

AP reports:

Crude futures rose on Friday after the IAEA said Iran had enriched uranium and was in defiance of the Security Council. Light, sweet crude for June delivery rose 68 cents to $71.65 a barrel in late morning trading on New York.

June Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange gained 78 cents to $71.69 a barrel.

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