Iran refused on Thursday to suspend its uranium enrichment activities as a precondition for negotiations to solve the nuclear issue.

"Iran is of the belief that the right course of action in resolving the nuclear issue is through dialogue and negotiations, without preconditions," Ali Soltanieh, Iran's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told a board meeting of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

The 35-nation board of governors of the IAEA wrapped up a regular session on Thursday, one day ahead of schedule.

Iran's nuclear issue was the hottest topic during the four-day meeting, with the discussion lasting from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning, when Iran was among the last four nations to make their statements.

"As always declared, Iran is fully prepared to remove ambiguities, if any, about its nuclear activities," Soltanieh said.

The United States and the European Union are warning Iran to return to the negotiating table or face more sanctions from the U.N. Security Council, but they insist that Iran should suspend its uranium enrichment first, as required by Security Council resolutions.

On March 24 the Security Council unanimously adopted a new resolution, the second punitive one, with tougher sanctions to pressure Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.

However, an IAEA report two weeks ago said that Iran continued to resist the U.N. Security Council ban on enrichment and instead was expanding its activities.

The U.S. government made it clear on Monday that it will push for the third round of sanctions against Iran through the Security Council in response to Tehran's non-compliance.

"The Iran nuclear issue has to only be dealt with in the framework of the IAEA as the sole pertinent technical international organization," Soltanieh said, adding the engagement of the Security Council has further complicated the situation.

The U.S. and some European countries accused Tehran of trying to develop nuclear weapons with its uranium enrichment project, an accusation Iran denies, saying it only wants it for electricity.

Source: Xinhua