An Iranian lawmaker said the nuclear decree issued by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the continuation of uranium enrichment to a 20-percent level is in line with the "international agreements," the local satellite Press TV reported on Wednesday.

Member of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Majlis (Parliament) Javad Jahangirzadeh said on Tuesday that Ahmadinejad's instructions to the government to press ahead with the 20-percent uranium enrichment plan and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) only within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is in line with the "international agreements," the report said.

On Monday, Ahmadinejad announced a law which has already been approved by the Majlis and by the Guardian Council, the top legislating body of the country, instructing the government to press ahead with the 20-percent uranium enrichment work to supply and deliver the fuel needed by the Tehran medical research reactor.

"We are not supposed to sit back and stop our work because of some states or major powers' pressure. If we are a member of the NPT, we should enjoy its benefits," Jahangirzadeh was quoted as saying.

Currently, Iran, as a signatory to NPT, is enriching uranium to a level of 20 percent in Natanz enrichment facilities in central Iran, which has been criticized by the West.

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