Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Iran would not step back even "one single pace" in its nuclear program.

"Our path to gain nuclear technology is transparent and we will never be back from our rights even one single pace," Ahmadinejad told a rally in the central city of Isfahan, broadcast live on state television.

"We advice them (the Western countries) that the best way to deal with the Iranians is to respect the laws and our people," he said, adding "Iranians want peace and justice for the nations all the world."

The Iranian president also said that his country's path to take the full advantage of peaceful nuclear potentials "is about to complete."

Earlier Thursday in Tehran, Ahmadinejad was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as reporting that Iran would continue its nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad's determination came just one day after a report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) said Iran still defied UNSC Resolution 1747 and expanded its uranium enrichment program.

The report, prepared by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, also expressed concern about its "deteriorating" understanding of unexplored aspects of the program.

The report blamed Iran for blocking IAEA efforts to probe its nuclear activities. It was handed over to the UNSC president for distribution among its members.

The UNSC unanimously adopted on March 24 Resolution 1747 with tougher sanctions to pressure Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities.

Iran has refused to heed the council's demand, insisting that its nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes only.

The United States and some other Western countries have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of its civilian nuclear programs.

Editor: Yan