Iran 'does not need' nuclear arms

The Iranian president has said his country sees no need for nuclear weapons, while insisting Iran will not abandon its pursuit of nuclear energy.

In an interview with US network NBC Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not explicitly rule out the possibility that Iran would acquire nuclear weapons.

He said simply that it was "not a part of our programmes and plans".

Meanwhile, Iranian security forces were on alert ahead of an annual rally expected to draw opposition leaders.

The opposition figures, who reject Mr Ahmadinejad's re-election in June, have called on their supporters to turn out in large numbers at the "Jerusalem Day" rally, which is being held in support of the Palestinian cause.

In his interview with NBC, the Iranian president said he did not "see any problems" with the elections.

Speaking about Iran's nuclear programme, Mr Ahmadinejad said his country would not yield to pressure from the UN, the US and European states.

Western powers maintain Iran is covertly developing nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies.

They have called on Iran to suspend its programme of uranium enrichment, which Tehran says is entirely peaceful.

Mr Ahmadinejad is due to address the UN General Assembly next week, and Iran is due to hold fresh talks on its nuclear programme with world powers next month.

"If you are talking about the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes, this will never be closed down here in Iran," he told NBC.

Asked repeatedly whether there were any conditions under which Iran would develop a nuclear weapon, Mr Ahmadinejad each time replied that Iran had no use for such arms.

"We don't need nuclear weapons," he said.

"Without such weapons, we are very much able to defend ourselves."