Iran defiant on nuclear plans

The Foreign Minister of Iran, Kamal Kharrazi, says his country is determined to meet its growing demand for electricity with nuclear power, despite American concerns that the technology could be used for military purposes.

Mr Kharrazi said all Iran's activities in the nuclear field were, as he put it, transparent, clear and peaceful.

On Thursday, the United States accused Iran of building two nuclear sites that could be used for making nuclear weapons.

Iran has denied this and said that the International Atomic Energy Agency had been told about the plants - and the atomic agency itself has now announced it will inspect these in February.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service