Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ruled out even a brief halt in Iran's nuclear program, saying Thursday it would hand a victory to the country's enemies and undercut the Islamic state's goal of becoming a world power.

Ahmadinejad's latest salvo _ apparently aimed at Washington and Western allies _ followed Wednesday's report by the U.N. nuclear watchdog that said Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment program in defiance of U.N. demands for a suspension. The finding could set the stage for a third round of Security Council sanctions.

"The enemy wants Iran to surrender so it won't have any say in the world," Ahmadinejad told a gathering of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards. "If we stop for a while, they (Iran's enemies) will achieve their goals."

Iran insists its nuclear program seeks only to develop energy, and has touted it as a sign of technological prowess. The United States and allies contend Iran is secretly aiming to develop nuclear arms.