Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that access to nuclear energy was the first step taken by the Iranian people to "conquer peaks of progress."
"The Iranian youth and scientists will conquer peaks of science and technology in all fields step by step and will stand at the peak of international progress," the Iranian president said, according to IRNA.
He added, "Certain powers fill their arsenals with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons but stand against national move of the Iranian people. "These powers intend to monopolize nuclear technology and put the world's wealth and power in their own pockets therefore they can rule the world based on this technology. But they are mistaken on the Iranian nation."
He said nuclear energy is an inalienable right and national demand of the Iranian people, adding, "Enemies think they can make the Iranians give up their honorable path through propaganda, false publicity, political threats and imposition of sanctions. "Iran is a nuclear country. This slogan that nuclear energy is our inalienable right is the outcry of the people and a national demand."
He addressed those who are against Iran's progress, saying, "If nuclear technology is bad, you should not use it...We believe it is good and all peoples should enjoy it."
