Iran's supreme leader says his country will continue to pursue nuclear technology, despite a U.N. demand it stop sensitive nuclear work.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Iran has made up its mind to press on with nuclear work. He says the United States is putting pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear research even though it knows Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

The United Nations Security Council has given Iran until the end of this month to suspend uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.

President Bush says he hopes the Security Council will quickly take action if Iran fails to meet the deadline.

Iran says it will respond Tuesday to the West's incentive offer to stop its uranium enrichment. But officials say it has no plans to give up nuclear work.

The United States and much of Europe accuse Iran of planning to build a nuclear bomb - a charge Tehran denies.