TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Iran's president added to the international debate over the country's nuclear program, saying it was for peaceful means only.
A two-year hold on nuclear development in Iran was ended this week when it opened U.N. seals on three facilities.
The BBC reports President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held a press conference Friday contending the nuclear program was for energy reasons, not to develop weapons.
He said Iran has the right as a sovereign country and signer of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to do so.
The United States and European Union states are pressuring the International Atomic Energy Agency to take a hard stance against Iran and report them to the U.N. Security Council.
Ahmadinejad said countries with nuclear weapons, who condemn Iran's program, are being hypocritical.
He said his administration was for a peaceful foreign policy, despite recent calls for the destruction of Israel.
