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Iran leader vows nuclear defiance Iran leader vows nuclear defiance
(about 5 hours later)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country will defend its nuclear programme to the bitter end. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran will defend its nuclear programme to the end, and must not show weakness "in front of the enemy".
His comments came a day after the UN nuclear body confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to stop uranium enrichment.His comments came a day after the UN nuclear body confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to stop uranium enrichment.
Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran could not show weakness "in front of the enemy", saying previous compromises had led to increased demands from the West.
Permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will meet on Monday to discuss further sanctions against Iran.Permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will meet on Monday to discuss further sanctions against Iran.
The head of the UN nuclear agency, the IAEA, has said there is still "a window of opportunity" for negotiations.
The UN Security Council had given Iran until 21 February to halt uranium enrichment.The UN Security Council had given Iran until 21 February to halt uranium enrichment.
But the UN's nuclear agency, the IAEA, concluded in a report on Thursday that Iran was expanding rather than halting its enrichment programme, defying a UN resolution of December 2006. But the IAEA concluded in a report on Thursday that Iran was expanding rather than halting its enrichment programme, defying a UN resolution of December 2006.
'Open door'
Speaking after meeting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Vienna, IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei said he believed a diplomatic solution could still be reached.
The Iranian people are vigilant and will defend all their rights to the end Mahmoud AhmadinejadIranian President Your say: Dealing with Iran Quick guide: Iran nuclear row Tension over Iran's plans
"The door is still open, there is a window of opportunity for both Iran and the international community to go back to the negotiating table," he said.
"I believe this is the way for a long-term solution."
Mr Ban called on Tehran to comply with the UN Security Council resolution and make greater efforts to show it sought nuclear technology for purely peaceful purposes.
"I would again urge Iranian authorities to engage in dialogue with the international community through peaceful means," he said.
'Vigilant people''Vigilant people'
Iran says the UN call for it to stop uranium enrichment is unacceptable, as it has no legal basis. Iran says the UN call for it to stop uranium enrichment is unacceptable as it has no legal basis.
Iran considers that a suspension of uranium would be contrary to its rights, to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and to international rules Mohammad SaeediIranian nuclear agency deputy head href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5603&edition=1">Your say: How to deal with Iran class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6122412.stm">Quick guide: Iran nuclear row class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6379611.stm">Tension over Iran's plans POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS New UN resolution on tougher economic sanctions, tabled by US or European alliesUS pressure on Europeans to step up bilateral sanctionsNew initiative to get Iran back to talks href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
"The Iranian people are vigilant and will defend all their rights to the end," Iranian news agency Isna quoted Mr Ahmadinejad as saying, at a rally in northern Iran on Friday. "The Iranian people are vigilant and will defend all their rights to the end," Iranian news agency Isna quoted Mr Ahmadinejad as saying, at a rally in northern Iran.
"If we show weakness in front of the enemy the expectations will increase but if we stand against them, because of this resistance they will retreat.""If we show weakness in front of the enemy the expectations will increase but if we stand against them, because of this resistance they will retreat."
In a Friday prayers sermon broadcast on state radio, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also said threats of further sanctions would not work.In a Friday prayers sermon broadcast on state radio, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also said threats of further sanctions would not work.
"They will not get a result this way, it will just make problems for themselves, the world and especially our region," he said."They will not get a result this way, it will just make problems for themselves, the world and especially our region," he said.
He said Iran was willing to give Western powers "the necessary guarantees" if they returned to the negotiating table.He said Iran was willing to give Western powers "the necessary guarantees" if they returned to the negotiating table.
'Peaceful purposes' Arms question
Representatives of the five permanent Security Council members - the US, UK, France, Russia and China - plus Germany will meet in London for talks on drafting a second resolution sanctioning Iran on Monday.Representatives of the five permanent Security Council members - the US, UK, France, Russia and China - plus Germany will meet in London for talks on drafting a second resolution sanctioning Iran on Monday.
POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS New UN resolution on tougher economic sanctions, tabled by US or European alliesUS pressure on Europeans to step up bilateral sanctionsNew initiative to get Iran back to talks Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at a press conference with French President Jacques Chirac on Friday, said the door "remains open" for negotiations with Tehran.German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking at a press conference with French President Jacques Chirac on Friday, said the door "remains open" for negotiations with Tehran.
But, she said, the report made clear Iran was not fulfilling its obligations and therefore it was right that the path led back to the UN Security Council. But, she said, the report made clear Iran was not fulfilling its obligations and therefore it was right to return to the UN Security Council.
Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has backed a diplomatic resolution to the dispute, China's state news agency Xinhua reports. Meanwhile Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has telephoned his Iranian counterpart to express Beijing's desire "to peacefully resolve" the nuclear issue, China's state news agency Xinhua says.
Mr Li telephoned his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki to express Beijing's desire "to peacefully resolve" the nuclear issue, Xinhua says.
US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who will take part in the talks, said Iran was "effectively thumbing its nose at the international community".US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, who will take part in the talks, said Iran was "effectively thumbing its nose at the international community".
Tehran denies Western claims it is secretly trying to build nuclear arms, saying its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful, energy-producing purposes.Tehran denies Western claims it is secretly trying to build nuclear arms, saying its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful, energy-producing purposes.
While enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, highly enriched uranium can also be used to make nuclear bombs.While enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, highly enriched uranium can also be used to make nuclear bombs.