Iran will continue its nuclear work "to the maximum scope" within the non-proliferation regime, but will give a reply to an international nuclear offer by Aug. 22 as announced, Iran's ambassador to Russia said on Thursday.

Tehran views as "unlawful" the latest UN Security Council resolution on Iran, which urges the country to stop uranium enrichment by Aug. 31, Gholamreza Ansari said, quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency.

"Therefore we don't recognize the demand that we suspend uranium enrichment in view of absence of violations on our part," Ansari said.

But Tehran will give an answer by Aug. 22 to the international proposal on its nuclear program, he added.

To lure Tehran to the suspension of uranium enrichment, Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany offered an international package in mid-June offering incentives and multilateral talks to Iran.

"Iran intends to continue work in the nuclear field to the maximum scope in accordance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Ansari said.

"We are resolved to continue our activity within the framework of IAEA rules," the diplomat said, referring to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The United States accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under a civilian front, but Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed at generating power to meet surging domestic demand.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2006)