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Iran talks tough on its nuclear program
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published March 22, 2007
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's top leader warned Wednesday his country will pursue "illegal actions" if the U.N. Security Council insists it halt uranium enrichment, an apparent reference to nuclear activities outside international regulations. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also warned the United States that Iran would fight back with "all its capacities" if attacked. "Until today, what we have done has been in accordance with international regulations," Khamenei said. "But if they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions and will do so." He did not elaborate on what the "illegal actions" could be, but Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the agreement under which the U.N. inspections are held. The five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - and Germany have drawn up new sanctions to punish Iran for rejecting U.N. demands to halt enrichment - a process that can produce fuel for a reactor or material for a nuclear warhead. In Washington, Bush administration officials urged patience with U.S. efforts to crack down on Iran. "Iran is a country very much on the defensive right now," said R. Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs at the State Department.
[Last modified March 22, 2007, 02:29:16]
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