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DUBAI (Reuters): Iran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Tuesday Iran would not bow to pressure to give up its right to nuclear technology.
Speaking at a regional forum in Dubai, Larijani said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons. But he said the country would not give up its inalienable rights.
Later on Tuesday, senior officials from six international powers meet in Paris to try to agree a resolution on sanctions over Iran's refusal to suspend its nuclear programme.
Political directors from U.N. Security Council permanent members Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States, plus Germany will attend the latest round of talks, which have been stuck for months.
The West suspects Iran is using its civilian nuclear programme as cover to build an atomic bomb but Tehran says its work is peaceful.
Russia has refused to agree to tough sanctions that would be seen as a punishment of Tehran for its refusal to meet the August 31 U.N. deadline to abandon uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or atom bombs.
Its opposition has set it at loggerheads with European countries and the United States, which has become increasingly impatient with Moscow's attitude.