Iran's nuclear chief says his country will not discuss anything related to its right to enrich uranium.
AliAkbar Salehi made his remarks two days before Iran is to discuss itsatomic program with world powers in Geneva. He said Iran will neverabandon its nuclear program.
Salehi also said Iran's newlydisclosed uranium enrichment plant was built in a mountain near amilitary base to protect it in case of an attack.
He said Iranwill soon tell the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) when itcan inspect the site, which Tehran last week acknowledged it isdeveloping.
The United States and other Western powers haveinsisted the IAEA gain immediate access to the facility to ensure it isnot being built to produce atomic weapons.
The facility is near the holy Shi'ite city of Qum, about 160 miles southwest of Tehran.
Meanwhile,Iranian lawmakers say Thursday's talks in Geneva are an "historicopportunity" to move past the deadlock on Iran's nuclear program.
Inother news, Russia's deputy foreign minister says Iran's missile testlaunches should not be used as a reason to impose more sanctions onIran for its nuclear program. But Sergei Ryabkov told the Interfaxnews agency the tests give greater argument to those who supportsanctions.
China urged calm after Iran drew international condemnation by testing its longest-range missiles on Monday.
Russiaand China are two of the five permanent members of the U.N. SecurityCouncil, but have historically been more reluctant than the UnitedStates and European nations to punish Iran for enriching uranium.
TheUnited States and its Western allies suspect Iran is building a nuclearweapon. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and intended toproduce electricity.
