(RIA Novosti) - Iran's ambassador to the UN rejected Monday the UN Security Council's demand that it suspend uranium enrichment by August 31. "Iran's peaceful nuclear program poses no threat to global peace and security," Javad Zarif said, adding that the UN's resolution was legally groundless and of no practical use. The UN Security Council voted Monday in favor of a resolution to set August 31 as a deadline for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities. If Iran fails to fulfill UN demands, economic and diplomatic sanctions may be imposed on the Islamic Republic. Zarif said the Security Council's approach would yield no positive results and could only exacerbate the situation. "The people and government of the Islamic Republic are not seeking a confrontation and have always been ready for sincere and constructive talks on the basis of mutual respect and equality. But they have also been firm in the face of pressure, threats and injustice," he added.
Iran's nuclear program has been a source of major controversy since the beginning of the year, as many countries suspect the Islamic Republic of pursuing a covert weapons program under the pretext of civilian research, despite its claims to the contrary.