The newspaper, which had repeatedly suggested that Iran withdraw from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and proceed with its nuclear program, would be expected to support the president's position.

"They felt that if they act forcefully and confrontationally, they can also proceed with their program like North Korea."

In an editorial on Tuesday, Kargozaran, a moderate daily newspaper, said North Korea could proceed with its program because it had China as its ally.

Although Washington does not want another arms negotiation, it does want Russia's blessing to proceed with its program.

The new rules mark one of the last big steps before the commission proceeds with its program to auction off the licenses to private companies for billions of dollars.

But Mr. Chirac still needed to make a few more cuts and he was determined to proceed with his broader program of liberalizing the economy.

The new loan gives the government some breathing room to proceed with its economic program without the immediate threat of default hanging over it.

The officials said Moscow had been helpful in trying to dissuade North Korea from proceeding with its nuclear program.

Perhaps we should ask permission of the intruder if we may proceed with our program.

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has vowed that the sanctions will not prevent the country from proceeding with its nuclear program.