TEHRAN, Aug. 1 Kyodo, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday rejected a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities by Aug. 31.

Ahmadinejad said the Iranian people have rights to produce nuclear energy.

The resolution was adopted at the Security Council on Monday by a vote of 14-1, with Qatar opposed.

The resolution, based on Article 40 of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, demands Iran suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development.

If Iran fails to comply by Aug. 31, the resolution states the Security Council will adopt ''appropriate measures'' under Article 41 of Chapter 7, which could lead to economic sanctions.

2006-08-01 23:51:33JST