Iranian Leader Vows To Resist Western Pressure

Iranian President Ahmadinejad (file photo) (AFP) 1 February 2006 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says Iran will resist Western pressure and complete its nuclear program.

Addressing a crowd in the Iranian city of Bushehr, the site of a nuclear power plant, he said nuclear energy is Iran's right. The speech comes a day ahead of a key meeting of the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, in Vienna.

IAEA board members there are expected to back a resolution that would send Iran to the UN Security Council for possible punitive sanctions amid concern Iran is covertly developing nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda is quoted today as saying he believes Iran will accept a compromise proposal to use Russian facilities to enrich uranium. Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said he reached that conclusion after talking with an unnamed Iranian negotiator. There was no further confirmation.

(AP)