By Xinhua

TEHRAN, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) --�Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that the Islamic republic will not back down on its "peaceful" nuclear program, Press TV reported Tuesday.

Mehmanparast emphasized that the Iranian nation will not back away from its "inalienable right to a peaceful nuclear energy program under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," according to the report.

He also criticized the British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond for his recent comments on the Iranian nuclear program, said the report.

Hammond said on Sunday, that the western sanctions over Iran's sensitive nuclear program are necessary to pressure Iran to end its nuclear activities.

"We can definitely make the pain much greater. Nobody wants to cause the Iranian people to suffer unnecessarily but this mad scheme to build a bomb has to be brought to an end," Hammond told the Guardian.

Hammond's comments only reveal the anger of the British government at Tehran's progress, said the Iranian spokesman, adding that such remarks indicate that London's all-out efforts to block Iran's path to development and prosperity have failed.

West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear program. Iran rejects the claims and insists on its "peaceful" nature.

 

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