DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Iran under no circumstances will abandon its right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Thursday in Switzerland.
Rouhani arrived Thursday in Davos, Switzerland, to address delegates gathered for the World Economic Forum.
He was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency as saying that despite enforcement of an interim nuclear agreement, Iran would "under no conditions give up its right to pursue peaceful technology."
Iran under the terms of a six-month deal with Western powers agreed to suspend enrichment of uranium to 20 percent purity, a level seen as a step on the way to nuclear weapons development. The Iranian government said it would continue enriching uranium to 5 percent purity.
Iran this month said it was open to further cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which this week confirmed Iran was meeting the terms of the six-month deal.
Iran says that, as a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has a right to conduct peaceful nuclear research. Rouhani told delegates in Davos nuclear research would continue in Iran under the supervision of the IAEA.
Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to produce a nuclear weapon. Rouhani brushed aside the allegations Thursday, saying he was pursuing a policy of "prudent moderation" aimed at revamping Iran's image.
