Iran steps up capability to deter enemies

"Relying on its domestic abilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been able to increase its deterrent capabilities against the constant military conspiracy of the regional enemies," Rear Admiral Shamkhani told state television.

He only added that all "ground, air and marine force and missile needs" had been addressed.

In recent weeks there has been a mounting war of words with Israel, which accuses I ran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The spat has increased speculation that the Jewish state may attempt to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.

Tensions have also mounted with Iraq's interim government as well as the United States, amid allegations that Tehran has been supporting unrest in its neighbour.

Shamkhani did not specify who the "enemies" were, but the term is frequently used to refer to Israel and the US.

Meanwhile, the UN nuclear watchdog must accept Iran's right to enrich uranium as part of its civil nuclear programme, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said yesterday.

"We are still hoping that with the negotiations we have had, we will arrive at a logical solution that they recognise our right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and accept us into the club," the president said.

"After that there will be no problem" between the Islamic republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he added.

The IAEA is due to hold a fresh round of discussions on Iran's suspect nuclear programme and examine the progress of inspections on September 13.

Under pressure from the IAEA, Iran agreed last year to suspend enriching uranium -- one of the most sensitive parts of the nuclear fuel cycle that can, depending on the level of enrichment, provide both fuel for power stations or for nuclear bombs. But Iran has backed away from a pledge to also suspend its work on other parts of the cycle, resuming the assembly of centrifuges, carrying out uranium conversion and building a heavy water reactor.

The three main European powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- have been pushing Iran to abandon its fuel cycle work altogether, even if such work is technically permitted under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).