Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday
dismissed three United Nations Security Council resolutions issued
against Iran as worthless and with no impact on the country's plans
to develop its nuclear programmes.
'They (UN veto powers) thought that we would surrender as soon as
they issued the first resolution against us but as I said at that
time, they can issue as many resolutions as they like, fact is that
these resolutions are worthless and just a piece of torn paper
without credit, legitimacy and any impact,' Ahmadinejad was quoted by
ISNA news agency as saying.
'No world power can deprive Iran from achieving its goals. The
world has changed and the time that one orders and the others obey is
definitely over,' the president said while inaugurating an industrial
project in south-western Khuzestan province.
Despite three UN resolutions and financial sanctions, Ahmadinejad
has so far rejected demands to suspend the country's controversial
nuclear projects, including the uranium-enrichment programme.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday that the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has 14 times confirmed the
peaceful and civil nature of the Iranian nuclear programmes, and
demanded an end to politicizing the country's nuclear dossier.
Iran says allegations made by IAEA member states, especially the
United States, that Iran was following a secret military programme
lacked documented proof.
While calling on the West to take care of its own financial crisis
instead of accusing Iran, Ahmadinejad also attacked local political
opponents' efforts to link the global crisis to Iran's economy.
'The idea that if the West sneezes, we will get fever is wrong.
Even if the dollar price drops below 40 dollars (per barrel), still
Iran would be capable to manage itself,' the president said.
Opposition leaders said the global economic crisis also affected
Iran, especially the oil revenue calculations in next year's budget,
and that Tehran should be concerned rather than dismissive.
Ahmadinejad claimed on Sunday that Iran's economy would be able to
cope with oil prices going even as low as five dollars per barrel.
On Friday, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries - of
which Iran is a member - said the barrel price had dropped to just
over 44 dollars.
Since his presidency in August 2005, Ahmadinejad has failed to
implement his promised economic reforms and the country is facing an
official inflation rate of 30 per cent, although economic observers
say the true rate is much higher, especially in real estate.
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