TEHERAN — Iran's new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country's right to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes should be recognized. "We continue to condemn weapons of mass destruction and the violation of nations' rights but consider a ban on the use of atomic energy by the Islamic Republic of Iran to be a great injustice and discrimination," Ahmadinejad said. "Iran stands for peace and the removal of threats and discrimination in the world."

The president said countries that produce and keep the most destructive nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons create a threat to all nations and want to deprive others of the right to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes.

He added that Iran continues to be committed to international treaties but would not comply with attempts to restrict its rights.

Ahmadinejad was elected leader of Iran in the second round of the presidential elections on June 24, 2004. He will be inaugurated on August 3.