Iran hopes the International Atomic Energy...

"We hope the director general of the agency, heeding Iran"s right to utilize nuclear energy...will take measures to ensure our needs and rights," Ramin Mehmanparast told the FARS news agency.

He said the UN nuclear watchdog should defend the right of "IAEA member-states to use nuclear energy for civilian needs and refrain from resorting to double standards and discrimination" against Iran.

The IAEA is expected to issue a new report on Iran"s nuclear program on Thursday, ahead of a regular session of its 35-member board of governors in early March.

The report comes just a week after Tehran informed the IAEA that it was enriching uranium to 20%, further fueling Western concerns that it seeks to build a nuclear bomb.

World powers had suggested Iran send much of its low-enriched uranium abroad and receive fuel rods for the research reactor in return.

Western powers led by the United States have demanded the imposition of a new set of UN Security Council

Pages: [1] 2