Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday reiterated his tough stance on pursuing the country's controversial nuclear programme, after plans to resume fuel research were criticised by the international community.

He said Iran would not bow to Western "bullies" which already have nuclear arsenals.

"Those who have nuclear weapons and have used them in the worst way against people in the world, have no right to prevent nations from achieving peaceful nuclear energy," the ultra-conservative president told a cheering audience in Qom.

"Some of them lately have even gone so far as to say that the Iranian nation has no right to conduct nuclear research. All nations should know that if we give these bullies a chance, they will next say that you don't have the right to have universities."

Tehran on Tuesday announced plans to restart research for its "programme for peaceful nuclear energy" which was suspended two years ago, a move that prompted International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohamed ElBaradei to seek "clarifications".

ElBaradei said on Tuesday that the IAEA's board of governors wanted Iran to refrain from activities linked to enrichment of uranium as a key confidence-building measure.

Ahamdinejad, however, stressed that Iran would master the technology "in the near future, to serve in medical, agricultural, industries and energy sectors, God willing."

In Vienna, Iran rebuffed the head of the IAEA yesterday, failing to show up for a promised meeting where it was due to explain plans to move closer to uranium enrichment by early next week.

Diplomats close to the agency described the move as unusual and suggested it was at least partly triggered by criticism of Tehran by ElBaradei during a meeting on Wednesday with Iranian envoys.

One of the diplomats said the Iranians appeared taken aback by the firmness of ElBaradei's demands Wednesday for more cooperation in his agency's investigation of Tehran's nuclear activities.

ElBaradei's clear opposition to Iran's plans to resume work with some equipment used in enrichment apparently contributed to Iran's no show on Thursday, he said.

Tehran says it will not actually begin enrichment on Monday.

But even the restart of equipment testing would be viewed as another move toward fully reviving the program despite Tehran's pledge to fully freeze all its aspects.

"The meeting never took place," said IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming, adding ElBaradei was "still seeking clarification" of what Tehran would do.

The European Union and the US fear Iran's civil nuclear programme is a cover for developing a bomb. Tehran denies the accusation.

Both Berlin and Paris warned Tehran's announcement could delay future talks on the issue, which are due to resume in Austria on January 18.

The Europeans and the United States are backing a compromise offer from Moscow to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil, guaranteeing Iran's access to nuclear fuel but for peaceful purposes only.

Iranian officials are to discuss the proposal with Russian officials tomorrow.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to supporters during his weekly trips, in the city of Qom, 125 km (77 miles) south of Tehran January 5, 2006. (REUTERS)