Iran will not build nuclear weapon: Khatami

"The issue of making a nuclear bomb is excluded," he told a press conference on the sidelines of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) here.

He said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) demands were unfair but "we are continuing our cooperation with the IAEA".

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"We have no major problem in principle but we insist on our right since we have no intention to build nuclear weapons. Because of our religious principles, our ideological principles and our dedication to dialogue among civilisations, we are totally against the proliferation of nuclear weapons."

"We never said we would not sign the protocol and cooperate with IAEA."

The IAEA has been pressing Iran to sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which would give the watchdog the right to carry out unannounced inspections of suspect facilities.

Khatami said because his country had existing stocks of uranium, it had a legitimate right to continue enriching it for peaceful purposes.

The agency has given Iran until October 31 to answer questions on its nuclear programme, amid fears it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head, Mohamed ElBaradei, who paid a flying visit to the Islamic republic Thursday to press for quick answers over its nuclear program, said he received assurances of Iran's "readiness" to open up its suspect facilities.

Meanwhile, Iran's President Mohammad Khatami denied yesterday his country was harbouring al-Qaeda fugitives following a report this week that Osama bin Laden's son was helping to run the terror network from within the Islamic republic.

"They (al-Qaeda) have always been against Iran. They are hostile towards Iran and we are also against them. We are not going to provide safe haven for them in our country," Khatami told a press conference on the sidelines of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit here.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Saad, the eldest son of Osama bin Laden, had risen to the top ranks of al-Qaeda and is helping run the terror network from inside Iran.