Iran to expand atomic work with UN checks

"We will expand nuclear technology wherever necessary and all of Iran's nuclear technology including the (centrifuge) cascades will be expanded," he said.

He added the work would be conducted under UN inspection.

Larijani said his country will not suspend uranium enrichment, in a clear rejection of a UN resolution calling for a freeze of the sensitive nuclear work.

"Our activities respect the Non-Proliferation Treaty... so we will not accept the suspension (of uranium enrichment)," he told a news conference, in the first formal reaction to the July 31 resolution.

"They should know that such resolutions will not affect our determination. We will pursue the nuclear rights of Iranians which are enshrined in the NPT."

The UN Security Council resolution requires Iran to halt uranium enrichment and other sensitive nuclear fuel work by August 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.

"This resolution has no legal credibility and it negates the purpose of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency," Larijani said.

The resolution was pushed through after Iran ignored a previous non-binding deadline and failed to respond to the offer of a package of incentives in exchange for a moratorium on nuclear fuel work.

Opec member Iran insists it wants to enrich uranium only to make reactor fuel for power stations but there is widespread suspicions the country wants the capacity to make weapons-grade uranium.

Larijani also warned that Iran could expand its nuclear activities by increasing the cascade of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment.

However, he said Iran was still studying the package of incentives, offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States and handed to Tehran on June 6, saying it "had the potential to resolve the nuclear issues".

The package offers trade, technology, diplomatic and other incentives as well as multilateral talks -- also involving the United States -- if Iran agrees to freeze enrichment.

"It has positive points as well as ambiguities. Negotiations must be constructive and away from pressure, to enable the ambiguities to be removed," Larijani said.