Iran has said it will start installing 3,000 centrifuges from Sunday at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant as an immediate reaction to the UN Security Council resolution.
 
Ali Larijani,Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator, told the Kayhan newspaper: "We will start our installation activities at the Natanz facility."
 
Earlier, Iran denounced UN sanctions imposed on Saturday over its nuclear programme, accusing the Security Council of double standards for ignoring Israel's recent apparent admission of its nuclear capabilities.
 
Speaking after the unanimous adoption of a Security Council resolution on Saturday aimed at pressuring Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment programme, Iran's UN ambassador called the sanctions illegal.
 
He also accused Europe and the United States of trying to prevent Iran from pursuing peaceful nuclear technology.
 
"A nation is being punished for exercising its inalienable rights," Javad Zarif said in a speech after the vote, accusing the council of acting at the "behest of a dangerous regime with aggression and war crimes as its signature brand of behaviour", referring to Israel.
 
Peaceful nuclear activities
 
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, appeared this month to abandon Israel's longstanding policy of ambiguity on nuclear weapons when he listed Israel among countries that possess them.
 
His office said his comments were misinterpreted.
 
Reacting to the Security Council vote, the Iranian foreign ministry said that the government will defy the resolution and continue enriching uranium.
 
"Iran considers the new UN Security Council resolution ... an extralegal act outside the frame of its responsibilities and against the UN Charter," the statement said.
 
"The Iranian nation, relying on its national capabilities and within the framework of its rights stipulated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, will continue its peaceful nuclear activities."
 
Grievances
 
Zarif's speech was filled with lists of grievances: allegations of war crimes and nuclear irresponsibility by Israel, Iranian proposals he claims were ignored by the Europeans and Americans, and crimes against Iran he said were ignored by the Security Council.
 
Zarif also questioned the sincerity of the Security Council's claim that it wanted Iran to suspend enrichment in order to build confidence and trust between Iran and the international community.
 
The United States' "stated objective has always been to use the council as an instrument of pressure and intimidation to compel Iran to abandon its rights", Zarif said.
 
"Knowing their bright recent history, we can all assume what the unstated objective is."
 
Diplomatic settlement
 
Iran has said it intends expand its enrichment programme to 54,000 centrifuges, which spin uranium gas into enriched material to produce nuclear fuel.
 
Iranian nuclear officials say 54,000 centrifuges would produce enough enriched uranium to fuel a 1,000-megawatt reactor, such as the one Iran has built with Russian assistance at Bushehr, in southern Iran.
 
The reactor is due to begin operating next year.
 
Members of the Security Council said the resolution's intent is to persuade Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and submit to inspections.
 
If the IAEA is satisfied with Iran's compliance, the resolution says, the sanctions will be suspended to allow for a negotiated, diplomatic settlement.

Photo Caption

Ali Larijani,Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator