Iran hopes to avoid more UN sanctions
Ap, Tehran
Tehran will remain steady in pursuing its disputed nuclear program and hopes the UN Security Council won't approve further sanctions, Iran's foreign ministry said yesterday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini dismissed earlier reports that Iran had slowed down the pace of its uranium enrichment programme. "Nuclear activities of Iran continue in a defined and clear framework," Hosseini said at his weekly news conference. Iran contends its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, but the United States and its allies suspect enriched uranium could be used to make atomic bombs. The UN Security Council already has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran since December over the Islamic republic's refusal to halt enrichment. A third resolution is being pushed by the United States and its allies on the council, and Hosseini acknowledged Sunday that Iran was bracing for this.
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