Iranian Leader Sounds Defiant Note On Nuclear Program

In a speech, Mr. Ahmadinejad reasserted what he called Iran's right to develop its essential nuclear program as it wants, despite international criticism. The Iranian leader says his country will continue until it can manage industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel for atomic power stations. He also denounced those countries which he says want to halt the program, accusing them of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. The Iranian president was speaking in Azerbaijan to leaders from a regional economic group that also includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, and former Soviet Central Asian states. The speech was delivered behind closed doors, but a text of its content was reported in various media outlets, including Russian television.