The Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has said that his country will not give up its right to develop nuclear technology.
He said Iran would continue with its recently resumed nuclear programme, whether or not it was referred to the United Nations Security Council, where it could face possible sanctions.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran, he said Iran had broken no international regulations by ending its suspension of its nuclear programme last Tuesday.
He accused Western countries who already have nuclear weapons of practising double standards.
Meanwhile, the US President, George W Bush, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have presented a united front over Iran's decision to resume its nuclear programme.
Speaking after talks in Washington, Mr Bush said they wanted to use 'diplomatic means' to resolve the issue.
Mrs Merkel said the European Union and the US would work together and try to persuade other countries to join them.
Mr Bush said he is not going to prejudge what the UN Security Council would do if Iran were brought before it.
However, he said Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons because it would become a threat to the world.
