Monday, March 27 2006 09:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tehran: Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran would stand firm against any action taken to pressure it to abandon its controversial nuclear programme, state-run television reported.

Iran's 'enemies' would be 'disappointed' after any confrontations with the Islamic Republic, Khamenei told a gathering of thousands of members of Basij, a paramilitary volunteers group affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards yesterday (Mar 26, 2006).

Khamenei implied that Iran takes seriously the mounting international criticism of its nuclear programme.

"It is possible that their threats might be realised, in some cases," the supreme leader said, according to a television report that summarised his speech. The audio of the speech was not broadcast.

The United States is now pushing for strong UN Security Council action to try to stop what it claims is Iran's ambition to build a nuclear bomb. The UN body, however, has been bogged down for two weeks over how to make a first move.

Iran has resisted international pressure to give up uranium enrichment, a key process that can produce either fuel for a nuclear reactor or the material for a nuclear warhead.

The country says its nuclear programme is to generate electricity only, and not to produce nuclear weapons.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Iran will 'not withdraw a minute step in the field of nuclear energy' and said the United Nations cannot stop Iran's peaceful usage of nuclear energy'.