Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at an event to mark the 28th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Tehran Feb. 11, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Xu Yanyan)

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to supporters as he speaks at an event to mark the 28th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Tehran Feb. 11, 2007. (Xinhua Photo/Xu Yanyan)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Sunday that his country will not suspend its nuclear activity.

Addressing a mass rally marking the 28th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, the president said that Iran had the right to have the full nuclear fuel cycle within international regulations and rules.

"If you (Western countries) want to talk and negotiate, why you want us to suspend (the enrichment)?" Ahmadinejad told thousands of people at the Azadi Square in Tehran.

"Your nuclear plants are keep running 24 hours everyday, but why you forced Iran to shut them down? If we suspend our activities, what will we talk about?" he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad stressed that Iran would still be ready for "dialogue," saying Tehran would act within the limits of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) over the disputed nuclear program. "We have been prepared for dialogue, but won't halt our activities ... any negotiations should be under fair and even conditions," said the president.

"Despite the authority of the parliament for the government to revise its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or even quit the NPT, the government, with the coordination of parliament has not used this ... the government will defend the Iranian nation's rights within the framework of the law," he added.

Many observers have previously expected that Ahmadinejad would make a big announcement concerning Iran's nuclear progress during his Sunday speech; probably Iran had started installing 3,000centrifuges at its Natanz nuclear plant for enrichment program.

However, the president did not make such an announcement. Ahmadinejad also said, "Iranian people have stabilized its definite (nuclear) right," but he did not specify what he meant exactly.

He declared that Tehran would make major announcements by April9, without elaborating.

"From now until April 9 you could hear frequently about the great progress of the Iranian people, especially for the nuclear technology," he said.

The UN Security Council last month passed Resolution 1737,imposing sanctions on Iran's nuclear and missile programs and calling on Tehran to suspend enrichment activities. However, Iran rejected the resolution and vowed to install 3,000 centrifuges by March of 2007.

Last month, some senior Iranian officials said that Iran had started to install 3,000 centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear plant, but another official of Iran's atomic agency has denied it immediately.

The West has long accused Iran of trying to produce nuclearweapons under a civilian cover, a charge denied by Tehran.

Editor: Yan