Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Iran had effectively foiled the Western attempt to report the country's nuclear case to the UN Security Council over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities, the official IRNA news agency reported.

"By unleashing an active diplomacy on its nuclear activities, Iran has effectively neutralized the European and US policies," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying at a cabinet meeting.

Ahmadinejad said that many countries had voiced their support for Iran's transparent policy by saying that Tehran's view on nuclear energy closely resembles their own.

He reiterated that Iran "was not seeking confrontation" on the nuclear issue but would not give up its legal rights.

"Nuclear technology is a national demand and a pivotal prerequisite for progress. If the United States and Europe try to impose their will, we will not tolerate it," Ahmadinejad stressed.

The European Union (EU) on Tuesday circulated a draft resolution to the 35 members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors which started a meeting on Monday in Vienna.

The draft would refer Iran to the Security Council for " failures and breaches of its obligations to comply" with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

However, Russia, India and some other member states of the IAEA Board of Governors have explicitly opposed the referral.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani also said Tehran would bar snap inspections of its nuclear sites and also consider pulling out of the NPT and resume uranium enrichment if it is referred to the Security Council.

However, Gholamreza Aqazadeh, Vice President and head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, on Wednesday retreated from the stance.

"Iran does not consider quitting the NPT and Tehran abides by its commitments to the treaty," Aqazade said in Vienna after a meeting with Non-Aligned Movement members in the IAEA Board.

Iran resumed uranium conversion work in August, after rejecting the EU offer to give up its nuclear fuel activities in return for economic and technical incentives.

Iran insists that it will never give up legal rights to produce nuclear fuel for fully peaceful purposes.

The United States and the EU suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program, a charge rejected by Tehran.

Source: Xinhua