Iran 'no threat' to Israel, says Ahmadinejad
By Laiylla Sherazi 'Pakistan Times' Foreign Correspondent

TEHRAN (Iran): Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday that the Islamic republic "is no threat to any nation even the Zionist regime", after opening a heavy water production plant in central Iran.

He said the Iranian people would defend its rights to nuclear technology "with force" as he inaugurated a heavy water plant.

"One cannot deprive any nation from its rights. The Iranian nation will defend its rights to nuclear technology with force," Ahmadinejad said in his inauguration speech.

"The Iranian nation is seeking nuclear energy and I am in charge of pursuing the nation's demand," Ahmadinejad said.

Inaugurates Heavy Water Plant

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad opened a heavy water plant on Saturday that will feed a new research reactor under construction.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, and his deputy, Mohammad Saeedi, accompanied the president to the inauguration ceremony, a foreign news agency reported.

The Arak heavy water plant is located on the outskirts of the village of Khondab, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the city of the same name.●