Iran says the newly-adopted and `politically-motivated` UN Security Council resolution will not alter course of its nuclear program.
On Saturday, the UNSC adopted resolution 1835, urging Iran to `comply fully and without delay` with the council`s previous demands.
Under US pressure, the UN body has imposed three rounds of sanctions against Tehran since 2006, demanding the suspension of uranium enrichment in Iranian nuclear facilities.
"Iran will continue with its current nuclear policies," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told a press conference on Monday.
Under international laws, Iran is entitled to conduct nuclear activities for civilian purposes, such as generating electricity for its national grid which suffers from serious demand-supply.
Contrary to the findings of the UN nuclear watchdog, western powers accuse Iran, a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), of seeking nuclear weaponry.
This is while the UN body said in its September 15 report that it could not find any `components of a nuclear weapon` or `related nuclear physics studies` in Iran.
"The demand for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment is beyond the council`s legal rights. Thus, we will continue with our program," said Qashqavi.
On Monday, US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice called the resolution a `very positive step`, claiming it would pave the way for further punitive measures against Iran.
The adoption of the latest resolution came after Russia, a veto-wielding UNSC member, rejected a US plea to support a new round of sanctions against Iran. While tensions are still simmering between Moscow and Washington over US plans to set up a missile shield in Europe as well as Russia`s August military conflict with Georgia, the Kremlin says its differences with the White House could influence its stance on Iran.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on September 12 that additional sanctions against Iran would not lead to a diplomatic solution to the standoff, stressing that Moscow would only accept follow-up to negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.
On Sunday, China, another permanent member of the council, threw its weight behind the Russian stance on Iran.
"Major powers should pursue peaceful talks with Iran rather than resort to the willful use of force or the intimidation of force," Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said Sunday.
Washington and Tel Aviv have threatened to launch military strikes against nuclear installations in Iran, under the pretext that a nuclear Iran would pose a serious threat to Israel.
"It`s like treating the relationship between two individuals. If one individual tries to corner the other, then the effect will be counterproductive. That will do nothing in helping resolve the problem," the Chinese prime minister said.
MD/HGH/DA - PRESSTV