Ahmadinejad hails petrol self-sufficiency

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has downplayed sanctions against the country, saying threats made Iran move towards gasoline self-sufficiency.

“They (the enemies) wanted to threaten a great nation through imposing sanctions on gasoline and they thought they could impose their policies on our country,” ISNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in a meeting with Iranian oil industry officials and experts on Saturday.

“Today we announce that we have reached self-sufficiency in the production of gasoline. It is a big event which displayed the capabilities of our experts both in the oil industry and in the international arena,” he added.

He slammed arrogant powers for their dominance over the world’s economy, science and technology, saying, “Arrogant countries do not know that the world [equations] has changed. This is the reason they committed big mistakes in the face of the Iranian nation.”

Ahmadinejad went on to say that Iran has done nothing wrong in its nuclear program as it has always abided by all mutual agreements and the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran became self-sufficient in gasoline production under circumstances that the United Nations Security Council had imposed four rounds of sanctions on the country over allegations that Tehran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and within the framework of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, to which it is a signatory.

The IAEA, in its several reports, has also verified the country’s non-diversion from peaceful purposes.