TEHERAN, April 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday that threats and pressure would not force Iran to give up its right to peaceful nuclear technologies.
"We don't believe that threats and pressure, including using the UN Security Council, will make Iran relinquish its legitimate rights [to peaceful nuclear energy]. Nuclear research activities are continuing," Hamid Reza Asefi said.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also said that Iran was ready to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and hold negotiations with all countries to solve the Iran nuclear issue.
Asefi made his comments as a team of experts from the international nuclear watchdog was in Iran inspecting the country's nuclear facilities and IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei was expected to visit Iran next week to discuss cooperation between Tehran and the agency.
Concerns about Iran's nuclear program have been growing since the Islamic Republic announced its intention to resume nuclear research in January and the country's hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, made a number of controversial remarks, including a call to wipe Israel "off the face of the map."
A number of countries have expressed alarm over Iran's controversial nuclear programs and have pushed for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on the country, as they suspect that Tehran is using its civilian-energy programs to disguise military projects.
Russia has been at the forefront of efforts to solve the escalating crisis diplomatically and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council could veto measures against Iran. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already questioned the efficacy of sanctions on a number of occasions.
Moscow has offered to enrich Iranian uranium - a vital component in both civilian energy and military projects - in Russia. But Tehran said in March that it would enrich a small amount of the radioactive substance anyway, an announcement that was greeted with widespread condemnation.
