Iran says to go ahead with nuclear enrichment work

TEHRAN, June 2 (Reuters) Iran will not stop its nuclear enrichment activities, despite mounting international pressure, a top official today said.

''Iran is determined to go ahead with its nuclear enrichment work for peaceful purposes,'' the deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation Mohammad Saeedi told Iran's students news agency ISNA.

His comments came before major world powers were to deliver today a pivotal proposal to Iran combining incentives to halt work that could produce nuclear weapons with a threat of UN Security Council action if it refuses.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iran had weeks, not months, to respond.

But Saeedi reiterated that Iran's nuclear enrichment activities were non-negotiable.

''Iranian nation will not let us give it up,'' he said.

Rice also held out the possibility that she meet Iranian officials if Tehran halts atomic fuel work and agrees to talks with major powers.

Saeedi repeated Iran's official view, saying Iran was open to talks with Washington, which broke ties with Tehran in 1980, but it would not agree to the US precondition that atomic fuel work be frozen first.

''America's wanting to enter nuclear talks is like someone who wants to play football ... but sets conditions before his qualification is approved,'' Saeedi said.

REUTERS DKS RK1915