news details |
|
|
| Iran warns of response to UN nuke sanctions | | |
TEHERAN: Iran's firebrand president warned on Monday that his country would oppose an ``appropriate and firm response'' to any UN sanction over its nuclear programme.
“Efforts by the big powers will only incite anger and hatred,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a large crowd on the outskirts of Teheran.
“The Iranian nation will respond to restrictive activities with an appropriate and firm response,'' he said, without elaborating.
The hardline Iranian president gave his speech as key United Nations Security Council members were deliberating a draft European resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, said at the UN that his organization has not been able to verify that Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful.
Security Council permanent members Russia and China have shied away from imposing punitive measures on their trade partner Iran, saying they prefer a diplomatic solution to the impasse. But the United States says the proposed sanctions are not tough enough.
The Russian president told his Iranian counterpart on Monday that Russia strongly favours further negotiations on Teheran's nuclear programme, the Kremlin said.
The brief Russian statement after a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Ahmadinejad was the latest indication that Russia opposes sanctions against Iran and believes the international community should try to defuse tension through talks.
With Iran waving threats of a firm response to any UN sanction, it also appeared aimed to cool Tehran's rhetoric and cast Russia as a peacemaker.
In the conversation with Ahmadinejad, ``Putin outlined the fundamental position of the Russian side in favor of a continuation of the negotiation process,'' the Kremlin said.
With the council divided, Ahmadinejad continued his defiance, telling the crowd that Iran would prefer to endure sanctions rather than bow to western pressure.
``We want to stand on our own feet,'' he said. ``You should know that our nation will not give in one iota in the nuclear case.''
He also mocked Britain as a ``follower of arrogance,'' for aligning itself to US foreign policy. The British ``have simply become the guide for a blind US,'' Ahmadinejad said.
The European members of the council --Britain, France and Germany --met last week to discuss the draft resolution. On Monday, all six permanent Security Council members were expected to continue deliberations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
