Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made it clear on Thursday that Iran would resume atomic research.
The announcement was made despite warnings from the West that it would endanger efforts to find a diplomatic compromise over its nuclear ambitions.
This announcement brought swift warnings from Washington and the European Union who fear that the country is secretly developing nuclear weapons.
An Iranian delegation is expected to meet officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to explain what activities the resumption of nuclear research and development would encompass.
Iran says it will use the technology only for peaceful purposes and that it has a right to do so being a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Western diplomats said that the latest Iranian move, which followed its resumption of uranium conversion in August, was likely to increase calls for Iran's case to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
"Recently, some of them have said that Iran has no right to nuclear research," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to thousands of people in the holy city of Qom.
"But they should know that the Iranian nation and government will defend the right to nuclear research and technology and will go forward prudently," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"But they should know that the Iranian nation and government will defend the right to nuclear research and technology and will go forward prudently," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"By relying on its young scientists, Iran will use this technology for medicine, industry and energy in the near future," he added.