Khatami reiterates Iran's right on nuclear technology

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami reiterated on Sunday that access to nuclear technology is a legitimate right of Iran, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Big powers were trying to exert pressure on the Iranian nation in order to hinder its progress," he said, referring to the resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Saturday.

The IAEA resolution urges Iran to suspend all of the activities related to nuclear activities and fully cooperate with the inspectors to clear up all related issues.

"I believe the current controversy over Iran's nuclear program was an offshoot of the moral corruption and hypocrisy that characterizes today's global community and the desire of a few to realize their hegemonic ambitions," Khatami said.

Khatami criticized the weak institution of the international community on promoting and implementing the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"Big powers claim a nuclear safeguards regime to prevent the possible spread of nuclear material to the wrong hands, but all these are rhetoric," he said.

"They not only support but also refuse to clamp down on Israel which to date refuses to disclose information on its nuclear activities and refuses to sign the NPT," he added.

"The pressure is being made to bear on Iran because it pursues independent policies and has managed to achieve progress while demonstrating to the world that its system of religious democracy can work," Khatami concluded.

The new IAEA resolution has been criticized by Iran, which termed it as "illegal".

On Sunday, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani said that Iran will not freeze uranium enrichment but has not shut the door yet to nuclear talks.

Majlis (Parliament) Speaker Ali Haddad Adel also said that Iran will make decision independently.

The United States, accusing Iran of secretly developing atomic weapons, has been consistently trying to prompt the IAEA to refer Iran's case to the UN Security Council.

Tehran has been denying the US accusation, asserting that it is politically motivated and Iran's nuclear research is fully peaceful.