TEHRAN, 22 August 2006 — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday Iran would press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear energy, indicating Iran will not heed a UN demand it stop enriching uranium or face possible sanctions.

Khamenei, who has the final word, did not mention enrichment by name but senior officials have repeated in recent days that it would not be stopped. The deputy head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization joined the chorus yesterday.

“Considering the technical advancement of Iranian scientists, the suspension of uranium enrichment is not possible any more,” Mohammad Saeedi told Iran’s Fars News Agency.

Saeedi said Iran would formally reply today to a nuclear package offered by six world powers, in return for an end to enrichment, that is aimed at allaying the West’s fears that Iran wants atomic bombs.

Khamenei said Iran would pursue its nuclear plans. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has made its decision and, in the issue of nuclear energy, will continue its path powerfully... and it will receive the sweet fruits of its efforts,” state television quoted him as saying.

He accused the United States of pressuring Iran despite Tehran’s assertions that it was not seeking to develop nuclear weapons, as Washington and its key allies contend.

“Arrogant powers and the US are putting their utmost pressure on Iran while knowing Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons,” he said.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany presented the package in June, offering Iran economic and other incentives if it first halted uranium enrichment, a process that has both military and civilian uses. The UN Security Council has demanded Iran halt enrichment by Aug. 31 or face possible sanctions.

Iran has suggested it will not give a simple “Yes” or “No” to the package but said the reply would be “multidimensional.” Iranian officials say they want more talks, but Western diplomats say Iran must halt enrichment first.

Anything short of that is likely to be viewed as a rejection of the offer in Western capitals. Western diplomats say the deadline for Iran to act is Aug. 31.

A senior Iranian official said Iran would respond in writing, possibly handing it to the British, French and German ambassadors in Tehran but more likely delivering it to the European Union’s Javier Solana in Brussels.