Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Teheran was determined to acquire nuclear technology and would refuse to negotiate over its "inalienable rights".

"We will continue on this present road in a calm way and within the laws," he said during a visit to Malaysia. "We believe it is the right of all countries to enjoy nuclear fuel and nuclear technology."

"We are ready to negotiate on different things but having said that we are not open to negotiating on our inalienable rights," he told a press conference after talks over a Russian compromise proposal failed to achieve a breakthrough.

Ahmadinejad's comments came as diplomats said that Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is to meet with the British, French and German foreign ministers in Vienna tomorrow in a last-ditch move to resolve the crisis.

Iran maintains its nuclear programme is solely aimed at generating electricity, but is facing demands from the United Nations nuclear watchdog to give assurances that it is not pursuing a covert nuclear weapons programme.

The Iranian leader said that history would regard the perceived Iranian threat as "a joke" but that the "road to negotiation continues to be open".

"If there are parties which have clear proposals, proposals which do not damage the path that my nation has chosen and our interest, and also complements what we have already achieved, we are ready to consider those as well," he said.

To drum up support

Ahmadinejad's visit is part of an Iranian campaign to drum up support ahead of a meeting next Monday of the International Atomic Energy Agency which could decide to take Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

The president said that Tehran had provided "the highest level of cooperation" to international agencies.

"Negotiations must be conducted in a fair and balanced manner," he said.

"My nation has chosen its path. We do not want to pick a fight with any country but we are very capable of defending our rights and securing our national interests."

In a fiery speech to Malaysia's business community earlier today Ahmadinejad accused his critics of trying to destroy Iran's national identity and ensuring that developing countries remain impoverished.

"We need to stand up against this torrent of hegemony," he said. "We oppose any excessive demands these powers put on us."

The president hailed an "awakening" of governments and people against the domination of powerful countries, who he did not name.

"Even inside Europe great resistance is taking shape," he said.

Negotiated solution

As the current head of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the world's biggest grouping of Muslim nations, Malaysia is believed to be trying to encourage a negotiated solution to the stand-off.

Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said it was vital to avoid another military conflict like the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"We still hold to the position that nuclear technology for nuclear energy, to be used pursuant to (the nuclear non-proliferation treaty) for peaceful purposes, it should be allowed," he told reporters.

"But in the case of Iran's situation, there is an impasse at present between the European Union and the Americans but we hope ultimately through dialogue and negotiation a solution would be found peacefully."

Political observers say the Iranian leader is using the trip to Malaysia - a majority Muslim nation but not an Islamic state - to show himself as willing to engage over the nuclear issue.

Larijani yesterday reaffirmed his country's right to carry out enrichment of uranium by itself for making nuclear fuel, and accused the US of trying to sabotage the Russian compromise proposal.