TEHRAN, April 28 (UPI) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday Iran "will not bow to injustice and pressure," hours before a U.N. deadline to cease illicit nuclear activity expires.
Speaking during a tour in northwest Iran, Ahmadinejad said "Iran has become a nuclear country whether the enemies agreed or not," stressing that "nuclear energy is our firm right and a national aspiration."
He was quoted by the Iranian News Agency, IRNA, as saying "certain countries want to monopolize nuclear technology to seize power and wealth in the world, but they are wrong when it comes to the Iranian people."
"The enemies believe that they can stop our people on its path through propaganda, incitement and by making political threats and imposing economic embargo," he said.
Ahmadinejad emphasized that Iran "is considered a center for peace and stability" and that "it never aggressed anyone or did injustice to others or posed a threat to the world."
Earlier the Iranian president said Iran "refuses to suspend the nuclear fuel cycle" but is ready to resume negotiations.
"We are ready to restart negotiations to affirm that we did not deviate from the peaceful path of nuclear technology," Ahmadinejad said.
The United Nations has asked Iran to freeze all uranium enrichment activity before Friday.
