Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said Tuesday that Iran will push on with its nuclear program even if it is forced to halt inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog.

"We have made our choice: yes to peaceful nuclear technology, no to atomic weapons," Khatami told a military parade in Tehran.

"We will continue along our path even if it leads to an end to international supervision" of the country's nuclear activities, Khatami said.

He said the international community should acknowledge Iran's "natural and legal right" so that the country can continue on its "path to acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."

The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA), has adopted a resolution setting a Nov. 25 deadline for Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment program.

The resolution also requests Iran to grant full and prompt access to the agency's inspectors and provide them with any further information needed by Nov.

25, when the IAEA board convenes to review Iran's compliance with the NPT.

The IAEA has been investigating Iran's nuclear program for two years, but it has not found any evidence that Iran has been developing nuclear weapons.

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

Tehran has been consistently denying the US accusation, saying Iran's nuclear research is fully peaceful.

Source: Xinhua