Iranian leader talks tough on nukes

TEHRAN, July 30 (UPI) -- Iran's leader says his country will "continue with its path" of nuclear development in defiance of global powers, including the United States.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments reported by state radio suggest Iran will continue enriching uranium past a deadline set for this weekend by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

Representatives from those nations and Iran met July 19 in Geneva, Switzerland, in an attempt to persuade Iran to accept a "freeze-for-freeze" approach. Under the plan, if Iran would not add to its nuclear program, the United States and other nations would freeze new international sanctions for six weeks while more formal negotiations got under way.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned the United States will push for further sanctions if Iran ignores the two-week deadline that came from the Geneva meeting.