Iran will not cave in to external pressure and halt 20-percent uranium enrichment, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said on Tuesday.

Western countries led by the United States suspect Iran of pursuing a secret nuclear weapons program, but Tehran insists it needs the enriched uranium for peaceful energy generation.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not suspend 20 percent uranium enrichment because of the demands of others," said Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, as cited by Iranian and international media.

"Twenty-percent enrichment is not an issue for the Westerners to agree to or oppose or even to seek a stance on," the Iranian official said.

Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Press TV has reminded.

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