In a newmove demonstrating its position form the mounting international pressure it'sbeen facing over the past two years over its nuclear activities, Tehran issueda bank note printed in orange, green and blue and showing a nuclear symbolwithin a map of Iran, asserting its determination to carry on with its nuclearprogram which might lead to the imposition of UN sanctions.

The new note for 50,000 Rials, about $5.40, will begin circulating thisweek.

Analysts say that the move by Iran, besides the fact that its anapparent defiance of the Western pressure to suspend its nuclear program, ismeant to showcase its technological achievements and ambitions.

Commenting on the new note, whose issuance coincides with the Persian NewYear to be celebrated next week, Mustafa Hasanzadeh, a 52-year-old Tehran businessman wasquoted by The Los Angeles Times as saying:

"The bank note is a window display of a country just like a businesscard for a manager,"

"This bill is the worst promotion for Ahmadinejad government. If hisgovernment wants to compromise on the nuclear issue, this is a disgrace."
 
And Abul-Ghassem Goulbaf, the publisher of Gozaresh, an economic and politicalmonthly magazine, said

"The bank note of any country should represent real power."

But some Iranians seem to be greatly satisfied with the new bill, seeing itas an emblem of national pride.

"It indicates Iranians are determined to have access to all kinds ofsciences but it also bears a defiant tone toward the internationalcommunity," LATimes quoted Jangalbaye Vaqari, 34, a Tehran taxi driver, assaying.

"It looks beautiful," said Hossein Samadzadeh, an accountant whosaw pictures of the bill in a newspaper. "But regrettably it shows thedevaluation (of our money) and is ominous."

"A very nice design"

China Central Television quoted Masoud Bahramian, Tehran resident, as saying:

"It is a very nice design and shows our national resistance and we canbe proud of our national pride. It reminds us that we should resist until theend to achieve our nuclear right."

But Mitra Shan Hosseini, another Tehranresident, said, "I think because of the sensitivity that Western countrieshave over Iran'snuclear issue, it is not a good move and increases pressure on ourcountry."

On the other hand, economists worldwide have a different opinion. They saidthat issuing larger denomination bills indicates runaway inflation.

"Scientific knowledge"

Besides the image of the atom surrounded by a field of electrons over themap of Iran,the bill also carries a quote from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in which hesays:

"Men from the land of Persia will attainscientific knowledge even if it is as far as the Pleiades." Pleiades is acluster of stars.

The note also bears the picture of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, thefather of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

What adds to the controversy caused by the new bill is the timing, whenworld powers discuss the imposition of sanctions on Iran as a punishment for itspersistence not to compromise its right, under the Unclear Non-Proliferationtreaty to pursue nuclear technology.

Washington, backed by Israel and the European Union, claims that Iran ispursuing a nuclear weapons program, but so far, international inspectors havefound no proof of a bomb program in Iran, which denies it intends to buildnuclear weapons.