Iran MPs, crying 'Death to America,' pass nuclear bill

To cries of 'Death to America' and 'God is Greatest' Iran's hardline-dominated parliament passed a bill on Sunday obliging the government to continue efforts to develop a civilian nuclear energy program.

The proposal, backed by 247 of parliament's 290 lawmakers, did not specifically force the government to resume uranium enrichment or end snap U.N. inspections of atomic facilities as
some lawmakers had called for.

But the outline bill approved on Sunday could incorporate such suggestions during subsequent discussions, lawmakers said in a session broadcast live on state radio.

'This is the voice of parliament, the voice of the Iranian nation,' Parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel said after the
bill was approved.

'The message of this bill is that we will not give in to pressure ... The Iranian nation is determined to use peaceful nuclear technology,' he said.