TEHRAN, IRAN — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday in a live television interview that there were no grounds for imposing new U.N. sanctions on his country.
Ahmadinejad dismissed the third round of sanctions that the U.S.
and other countries have been pushing for to force Iran to halt uranium enrichment.
“In my opinion, there is no justification,” he said. “I think it is very unlikely that they, the West, is ready to pressure the agency, once again.” A U.S. intelligence report earlier this month concluded Iran had stopped its nuclear weapons program in late 2003 and had not resumed it since. Tehran says it never had a weapons program, insisting its nuclear activities aim only to generate electricity.
The U.N. Security Council has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran since last December.
The United States and key European nations — France, Britain and Germany — want tough new measures against Iran. Russia and China oppose strong sanctions, urging a focus on further diplomacy.
Ahmadinejad accused his rivals of waging a psychological war against his policies.
“There is an organized psychological war against us. Repeatedly they say economic situation is worsening and broadcast negative economic news,” he said. “When the enemy wanted to imply that sanctions have affected Iran, they (rivals) launched a psychological economic war here.” “I see some individuals who do not observe national interests,” he added. “I have no doubt that some intentionally want to cause damage.”
