SALON

Tuesday, Dec 18, 2012 4:45 PM UTC

Ahmadinejad says Western sanctions won’t stop Iran

By

Topics: From the Wires,

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s president said Tuesday that Western sanctions could at the most cause a “quick tap on the brakes” in Tehran’s nuclear program but will not slow it down substantially, state TV reported.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is quoted as saying that the “West is not happy with Iran’s progress” in technological fields including uranium enrichment — a possible pathway to nuclear arms.

“You think that by resorting to oil and currency issues, you are able to press the Iranian nation and stop it from its path? You are wrong. Maybe this works like a quick tap on the brakes in driving, but the Iranian nation will find its way quickly and will continue,” said Ahmadinejad.

Iranian leaders have consistently taken a defiant tone toward the series of punitive oil and banking measures enacted by the U.S. and Europe over concerns Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons.

Iran’s oil production has fallen by about half and the country’s currency has plummeted to less than half its value over the past months.

Iran denies that it is pursuing weapons technology, saying that its program is for peaceful purposes.

“Do you really worry about a nuclear bomb?” Ahmadinejad ask. “No, this is mere pretext. These are sheer lies. You are unhappy because you see Iran is progressing. You want to take revenge on the Iranian nation but you cannot.” He said the West should respect Iran’s nuclear rights.

Also on Tuesday, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tehran might consider opening the disputed Parchin site to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.

“If we reach an extensive agreement (with the West) and they recognize our rights, we will take measures to help ease the IAEA’s concerns,” he said.

The remarks come just days after Tehran again rebuffed U.N. nuclear agency inspectors from visiting the Parchin military base near the Iranian capital. The IAEA has linked the site to suspected secret nuclear weapons research but Iran denies that, insisting Parchin is a conventional military facility.

In a parallel comment, Iran’s nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi said Iran would not stop enriching uranium to 20 percent, which the West fears bring Iran closer to a capacity to produce nuclear weapon.

“Iran will continue 20 percent uranium enrichment until it meets its needs,” Abbasi was quoted as saying by Iran’s cabinet news websit, dolat.ir.

Uranium enriched to more than 90 percent can be used for nuclear weapons. Uranium enriched to 20 percent can be brought to weapons-grade more quickly, but Iran says it needs the higher grade for cancer treatment and as fuel for a Tehran research reactor.

By Nasser Karimi

More By Nasser Karimi.

Next Article

You Might Also Like

More Related Stories

Featured Slide Shows

Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

close X
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11
  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

  • Recent Slide Shows

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Thumbnails
  • Fullscreen
  • 1 of 11

Related Videos

More Related Stories

Comments

 0 Comments

Comment Preview

Your name will appear as username ( settings | log out )

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href=""> <b> <em> <strong> <i> <blockquote>

follow salon

Most Read

Popular on Reddit

links from salon.com

From Around the Web

Presented by Scribol
listener_new_rect The Listener: "We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves": Growing up primate

Recommendations