Iran stays firm on nuclear rights as tour ends

TEHERAN, Iran - Iran's nuclear negotiator said on Sunday that Teheran will steadfastly pursue its atomic rights as he prepared for a face-off with world powers in Istanbul over the Islamic republic's nuclear drive.

Saeed Jalili's hardline reiteration of Iran's nuclear policy came in comments made to the group of foreign envoys who ended a tour of the country's nuclear facilities, including its main uranium enrichment plant.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not retreat one iota from its (nuclear) rights," Jalili told the envoys, according to state television's website.