"None of these measures can force Iran to put aside its peaceful activities to obtain nuclear technology," Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi told Telesur television, according to a Spanish translation of the interview with the regional broadcaster.

"The Islamic republic will resist without a problem," Mohammadi said.

The UN Security Council demanded Monday that Iran end nuclear activities including uranium enrichment by August 31 or face possible sanctions.

Hardline Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday vowed that Iran would not bow to "force and threats."

The West suspects Iran's nuclear program hides efforts to build a nuclear bomb, although Tehran says its work is for peaceful purposes.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Iran last week during a nine-country tour that ended Thursday.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.