Iran not to retreat from nuclear rights

Iranian president said Wednesday that Tehran will not retreat from its right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Press TV reported. "Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and will not do so as this is the fatwa (religious decree) of the leader and also our country's commitment," Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying, referring to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran is not seeking Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) either, since Tehran has joined all international conventions banning the use of such arms, he said, adding that, however, Tehran will not back down from developing peaceful nuclear technologies, reported Xinhua news agency. Earlier, Iran's nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi emphasized his country would not dismantle the nuclear infrastructure which has been developed for civilian use.