Iran says will expand atomic work with UN checks

TEHRAN, Aug 6 (Reuters) Iran will expand its atomic fuel work whenever it feels the need to do so, chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said today, rejecting a UN resolution demanding an end to uranium enrichment.

The UN Security Council has told Iran to halt its nuclear work by Aug. 31 or face the threat of sanctions. But Iranian officials have insisted that the U.N. resolution is illegal.

''We will expand nuclear technology at whatever stage it may be necessary and all of Iran's nuclear technology including the (centrifuge) cascades will be expanded,'' Larijani told a news conference.

He added the work would be conducted under UN inspection.

The West says Iran is using its nuclear programme to build nuclear weapons whereas Tehran insists it needs enriched uranium only to run power stations.

REUTERS AKJ PM1323