Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, repeated in a briefing Thursday Iran's long-held assertion it is pursuing a peaceful nuclear program.

At a press conference in Tehran, Mehmanparast suggested Western nations are "over-reacting" to Iran's announcement Sunday it would build 10 new nuclear enrichment facilities.

Mehmanparast added Iran would "not give up its rights," to produce nuclear power, and issued a vague threat to take legal action against those trying to prevent it from doing so.