Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reacts during the General Debate on the theme "The impact of the global food crisis on poverty and hunger in the world and the need to democratize the United Nations" during the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 23, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in his speech to the UN General Assembly's general debate on Tuesday, asserted that his country's nuclear program is peaceful and slammed "a few bullying powers" for putting hurdles in the way of Iran's nuclear activities.

    "Despite the inalienable right of all nations, including the Iranian nation, in producing nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, and despite such facts as the transparency of all Iranian activities and our country's full cooperation with the inspectors of the IAEA ... a few bullying powers have sought to put hurdles in the way of the peaceful nuclear activities of the Iranian nation by exerting political and economic pressure against Iran," Ahmadinejad said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meets U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) during the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York Sept. 22, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "These are the same powers that produce new generations of lethal nuclear arms and possess stockpiles of nuclear weapons that no international organization is monitoring," Ahmadinejad said.

    The Iranian leader said his country "will resist the bullying and has defended and will continue to defend its rights."

    By saying so, the Iranian leader is apparently referring to the United States, who has repeatedly accused Iran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. However, Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

U.S. says planned meeting on Iran called off

    NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. official said here Tuesday that the planned Thursday meeting of foreign ministers from the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany on Iran's nuclear issue is canceled.

    "There is not going to be a P-5-plus-one ministers meeting," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said, referring to the planned meeting on Thursday by the foreign ministers of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. Full story

U.S.: 6 major countries to seek new sanctions against Iran

    WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany will seek to move forward with new sanctions against Iran as Tehran refuses to comply with United Nations resolutions, the State Department said Thursday.

    Iran has failed to comply with the demands of the UN Security Council and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Full story

EU regrets Iran's rejection to suspend nuclear activities

    BRUSSELS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The European Union expressed on Thursday regret that Iran is refusing to suspend nuclear activities.

    The EU "regrets that Iran is refusing to suspend its sensitive nuclear activities," and "is not providing the IAEA with the cooperation which the IAEA has requested in order to answer the outstanding questions listed in its reports," the EU's French presidency said in a statement. Full story

Official: Iran "not likely" to have nuclear capabilities by 2010

    JERUSALEM, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran is "not likely" to obtain nuclear capabilities by 2010, an Israeli military intelligence official said Monday.

    "The most optimistic scenario as far as the Iranians are concerned is that they will have obtained nuclear capabilities by 2010. However, such a scenario is not likely," Yossi Baidatz, head of the research division of Israeli military intelligence, was quoted by local daily Yedioth Ahronoth as saying. Full story