Iran dismisses US deadline

Iran's President is dismissing the US deadline for a UN drafted deal regarding its nuclear program. While, the White House stresses December is the drop-dead date for Iran to fulfill its obligations.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is dismissing a year-end deadline set by the US and the West for Tehran to accept a UN -drafted deal to swap low-grade enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.

He is also calling for the disarmament of US and Israeli warheads. He says his government is "ten times stronger" than a year ago.

Earlier in the day, Ahmadinejad rejected US claims Iran was making nuclear bombs, saying Iran has enough courage to announce that fact -- if that were true.

The White House is warning Iran that December is the deadline for reaching the UN drafted deal. Press official Robert Gibbs claims the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany will encourage Iran to take the drop-dead date seriously.

Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary, said, "I think all of those involved in the P5-plus-1 would encourage Iran to take that deadline as seriously as it's being taken by us to live up to their responsibilities."

The US and its Western Allies accuse Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the disguise of developing civilian nuclear power. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purpose.

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday again rejected a year-end deadline set by the United States to accept a UN- brokered deal aimed at allaying fears over its nuclear programme. (AFPTV)