Ahmadinejad: Sanctions help Iran, not harm it
Ali Akbar Dareini
In a speech, Ahmadinejad also rejected President Obama's offers of engagement, saying "three or four beautiful words" did not mean U.S. policies had changed.
"They say they have extended a hand to Iran, but the Iranian government and nation declined to welcome that," he told workers at the inauguration of an industrial project in southern Iran. "What kind of hand did you extend toward the Iranian nation? What has changed? Did you lift sanctions? Did you stop propaganda?"
White House spokesman Bill Burton said the administration would have no comment on Ahmadinejad's remarks.
Obama said Thursday that six world powers dealing with Iran's nuclear program would develop in the coming weeks a package of serious new measures to punish Tehran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
China has not confirmed U.S. reports that it has dropped its opposition to possible new U.N. sanctions. China has veto power in the U.N. Security Council, and its support would be key to passing a resolution against Iran.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, is in China in the hopes of winning assurances from Beijing that it will oppose sanctions.
The United States and some of its allies have accused Iran of seeking to use its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the allegation, saying its nuclear program is geared toward generating electricity, not bombs.
Three rounds of U.N. sanctions already have been imposed.
Iran's economy has suffered over the last year, and its parliament approved a cut in subsidies that keep fuel prices low, a further blow to Iranians experiencing high unemployment and inflation.
Nevertheless, Ahmadinejad said U.S. steps to pressure Iran had backfired.
"Don't imagine that you can stop Iran's progress," he said. "The more you reveal your animosity, the more it will increase our people's motivation to double efforts for construction and progress of Iran."
The Security Council could consider new punishments for Iran, including increasing financial squeezes on the extensive holdings of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The United States also has said it may penalize companies that sell fuel to the oil-rich Islamic republic, which imports about 40 percent of the fuel it needs because its refineries cannot keep pace.
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April 4, 2010