Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday that his country would continue its heavy water nuclear reactor program, just hours after the UN atomic agency board meeting denied Tehran's technical assistance request to build it.

As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is legally deserved and receive technical assistance and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has the duty to provide that, Mottaki told reporters at a press conference in Tehran.

"It is the duty of the IAEA to help. If they help, we will appreciate it. If not, we will do it on our own," said the minister.

Earlier Thursday, diplomats in Vienna said that the IAEA had decided to deny Iran technical help request in building the heavy water reactor in Iran's central city of Arak -- at least for now -- but left room for Tehran to renew its request.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated in late August part of this reactor facilities which produces heavy water.

Source: Xinhua