Friday, March 17 2006 19:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tehran: Iran said today (Mar 17 2006) that its nuclear programme is not up for negotiation, despite possible calls by the UN Security Council for it to accede to demands by the UN nuclear watchdog and immediately halt all nuclear enrichment activities.

"We do not hinge our nuclear activities on a negotiation that is not dignified and will not attain our rights," Iran's chief nuclear negotiatior, Ali Larijani, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

"We are ready for negotiation, but a negotiation which does not intend to dissuade Iran from having nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. If so we will not accept it," he told volunteer militia, Basij university instructors.

"The West does not want us to have nuclear technology, but Iran will continue its path with resistance, since it is our legitimate right," he said.

"We are a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and we are seeking our rights with in it, like all other signatory nations," said Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

In an implicit reply to remarks made by the US on the possible preemptive military action against Iran, Larijani said: "Military threats show how weak they are, since they can fulfill them. We are ready for them and we have the plans for it."