Iran ? President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Friday that new sanctions won’t force Iran to give up its right to enrich uranium, and he blasted the U.N. Security Council as an instrument used by “bullying” Western nations against Tehran.

“We have achieved the nuclear fuel cycle. We won’t give it up under pressure. You can’t stop the Iranian nation from this path through meetings,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by state media.

But even as he reiterated Tehran would pursue the controversial enrichment program, he has asked to speak before the U.N.’s most powerful body on the day the Security Council votes on a new resolution on stepped-up sanctions against his country.