'Iran to go 'right to the end' in atomic drive'

Iran's ultra-conservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated on Friday his country would go "right to the end" to defend its disputed nuclear program, set to be reported to the U.N. Security Council.

"Our position is clear in the nuclear issue. We will act in the framework of international regulations to defend our right and we will go right to the end," he was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

Iran argues it only wants to develop atomic energy and argues that fuel cycle work, although it can be extended to make weapons, is a right enshrined by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The president also accused the West of "ordering around international institutions and thinking they are in the Middle Ages." The IAEA move comes after intensive lobbying by Britain, France, Germany and the United States.

"If they don't wake up themselves, they will be by a smack given to them by the people of the world," fumed the president, who was speaking at the end of a visit to the southern city of Bushehr where Iran's first nuclear power station is under construction.

"You have ruled the world for years with your lies, but now the Iranian people have blown this lie away and you can't stand it," the president said.

Iran appears poised to retaliate against the expected reporting of its nuclear program to New York, with the hardline regime vowing to quickly limit international inspections and kick-start sensitive fuel work.