He said the high level of bilateral cooperation on the issue has been reflected in the unanimous approval of a UN Security Council resolution toughening sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend its uranium enrichment.
The new resolution was passed March 24 following Tehran's refusal to comply with the previous resolution, adopted December 23, 2006.
The resolution freezes the foreign accounts of 13 companies and 15 individuals involved in uranium enrichment and missile development projects, imposes visa restrictions and bans arms exports from Iran. It also threatens new sanctions if Iran does not comply with the resolution within 60 days, and urges the Islamic Republic to return to negotiations.
Since Iran resumed uranium enrichment in January 2006, the country has been the focus of international concerns, as some Western countries, particularly the U.S., suspect Tehran is pursuing a covert weapons program. But Tehran has consistently claimed it needs nuclear power for civilian power generation and is fully entitled to its own nuclear program.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated Monday that the Islamic Republic would not succumb to pressure from the international community and would continue implementing its nuclear program. He also said the country had started nuclear fuel production on an industrial scale.
