Iran holds firm to nuclear rights

TEHRAN, June 4 (UPI) -- Iran has no intention of retreating from its basic rights to conduct peaceful nuclear research, Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said.

Jalili said the government is in "a very good condition" in terms of the progress it's made in nuclear technology, state-funded broadcaster Press TV reported Tuesday.

Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to manufacture a nuclear weapon, an allegation the government denies. The Iranian government said it has the right to conduct peaceful nuclear research as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"The right to nuclear technology is a symbol for the Iranian nation so that the enemy understands that we will not retreat one iota from our basic rights," he was quoted as saying.

The International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report Monday saying it wasn't able to verify that all of Iran's nuclear activity was designated for peaceful purposes. The U.S. government said Monday it was extending sanctions on Iran's currency, the rial, in response to ongoing nuclear security concerns.

Jalili is among the eight presidential candidates approved by the 12-member Guardian Council to have their names appear on the June 14 ballot. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is ineligible to compete because of term limits.