Resistance, driving force behind Iran’s progress: Iran’s Salehi

Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has dismissed attempts by the enemies of the country to exert pressure on the Iranian nation, describing ‘resistance’ as the driving force behind the Islamic Republic’s advances.

“Enemies are making efforts to pressure the Islamic Republic and they think if they put pressure on Iran, the nation will give in to them,” Salehi said Sunday, adding that, “This is while resistance is the driving force on the path of progress and the Iranian nation’s resistance and advances are increasing by the day.”

The Iranian foreign minister pointed to the recent US-engineered sanctions against Iran and said that the arrogant powers are taking every measure to cause the nation to become frustrated.

The US and the European Union have imposed financial sanctions as well as an oil embargo against Iran since the beginning of 2012, claiming that the country’s nuclear energy program may include a military component.

Tehran refutes such allegations, noting that frequent inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency have never found any diversion in Iran’s nuclear energy program toward military purposes.

In reference to the recent developments in Syria, Salehi said that the situation in the Arab country is “calm” and there is no need to take any action regarding the Iranian citizens there.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011. Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil.