Iran says atomic work has "no reverse gear"-agency

TEHRAN, Feb 25 (Reuters) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today Iran had ''no reverse gear'' on its way to mastering the technology to make nuclear fuel, voicing fresh defiance before major powers meet to discuss the dispute.

An Iranian deputy foreign minister echoed the tough talk, saying the Islamic Republic, which is accused by the West of trying to build nuclear weapons, was ready for any possible scenario ''even for war''.

The United States insists it wants a diplomatic solution to the row but has not ruled out military action if that fails. US Vice President Dick Cheney said yesterday Washington and its allies must curb Iran's atomic ambitions.

''Iran has obtained the technology to produce nuclear fuel and Iran's move is like a train ... which has no brake and no reverse gear,'' Ahmadinejad was quoted by Iran's student news agency ISNA as saying.

Officials from the Security Council plus Germany are due to meet in London in the coming days to examine the chances of drafting a resolution that could impose more restrictions on Tehran. UN sanctions were slapped on Iran in December.

''We have prepared ourselves for any situation, even for war,'' Manouchehr Mohammadi, one of the deputies to the foreign minister, was quoted by ISNA as saying at a conference in the central city of Isfahan.

''If they issue a second resolution, Iran will not respond and will continue its nuclear activities,'' he said.

REUTERS SP VV1611