Iran's president says his country will not give in to pressure as the United Nations deadline approaches for Iran to suspend its sensitive nuclear work.
Speaking Thursday, one day before the deadline, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called international efforts to make Iran abandon its uranium enrichment program an "injustice." He added that no one can take nuclear technology away from his country.
On Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency is to present a report to the U.N. Security Council on Iran's compliance with demands to stop sensitive nuclear work.
But Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he believes the IAEA should deal with Iran, and not refer it to the Security Council where it could face possible sanctions. He spoke after meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Siberian city of Tomsk.
On Wednesday, Iranian nuclear chief Gholamreza Aghazadeh met in Vienna with IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei for last-minute talks on the issue. No breakthrough was reported.