Iran said yesterday its nuclear activities have not halted or slowed down, rejecting reports that it has not significantly expanded its uranium enrichment program this summer as planned.

"There has been no slowing down, no halt and no retreat. Our activities continue on the same basis we began our peaceful nuclear program," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters.

Hosseini was responding to speculation that the threat of more UN Security Council sanctions may have forced Iran to slow down its disputed uranium enrichment program.

He also accused the United States of seeking to derail Iran's talks with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement last week on a timetable to respond to remaining questions over Teheran's controversial nuclear activities.

The US criticized the deal, saying it won't save Iran from a third set of UN sanctions for refusing to halt uranium enrichment. The remark drew criticism from some diplomats in Vienna, where IAEA is based, who suggested that the US was trying to derail important progress in the Iranian nuclear negotiations in its drive to impose new UN penalties.

"Nothing else is expected from the US. The trend (of talks) between Iran and the IAEA has been successful... other countries welcomed that. But Americans are making efforts to harm this trend," Hosseini said.

Iran's agreement with the IAEA is expected to allow for easier inspection of Iran's nuclear facilities by IAEA experts and encourage Teheran to give detailed answers on remaining questions over two decades of its nuclear activities.

Meanwhile,Iran vowed to use a new 500-kg "smart" bomb against its enemies and unveiled mass production of the new weapon, state television reported yesterday.

Teheran first announced development of the long-range guided bomb on Thursday, saying it could be deployed by the country's aging US-made F-4 and F-5 fighter jets.

"We will use these (bombs) against our enemies when the time comes," Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said on state television yesterday.

The broadcast included a brief clip of a fighter jet reportedly dropping one of the bombs, which destroyed a target on the ground.

The television also showed Najjar unveiling a mass production line for the weapon in Teheran.

"We will use this weapon where we want to... hit enemy's strategic and defense targets," Najjar said.

(China Daily via agencies August 27, 2007)