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Iran's President 'Will Never Back Down' on Nuclear Ambitions
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=11BF7E5:3919ACA In speech Monday,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also promised what he calls 'good news' on Iran's
nuclear program in next few days





Iranian president AhmadinejadIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
says his country will never back down from pursuing its nuclear
ambitions.

In a speech Monday, Mr. Ahmadinejad also promised what he calls "good
news" on Iran's nuclear program in the next few days.  He did not
elaborate.

Meanwhile, President Bush says he wants to use diplomacy to prevent
Iran from having the ability to develop nuclear weapons, although a
military option has not been ruled out.

The president says American news media reports about supposed plans
for U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites are "wild speculation." 
He says diplomacy is the best course, including discussions with Iran
by several countries concerning the nuclear issue.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said the media reports are part of a U.S. campaign of
"psychological warfare."

The Washington Post  quoted current and former U.S. defense officials
as saying a Pentagon study of military options is part of a
coercive-diplomacy effort to get Iran to end its nuclear fuel
program.  The report published Sunday also says no U.S. attack appears
likely in the short term. 

In a separate report citing unnamed sources, The New Yorker  magazine
says the Bush administration has increased clandestine activities in
Iran, as well as planning for possible air strikes on nuclear
facilities.

Washington accuses Iran of using its nuclear program as a cover for
efforts to develop an atomic bomb, a charge Tehran denies.  Last
month, the U.N. Security Council ordered Iran to stop uranium
enrichment.


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