Iran sanctions, no beginning for talks

In the wake of a new UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution against Iran, the country’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismisses the notion that sanctions will pave the way for further negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

Speaking on Wednesday, President Ahmadinejad criticized the fourth round of UNSC sanctions on Iran, saying “The recent resolution against the Iranian nation was in fact a loud announcement of the fall of liberalism and humanism.”

The Iranian chief executive went on to stress the futility of such punitive measures, saying that “Those who ratified the resolution are perfectly aware that it will have no impact.”

“They have stated clearly that this resolution is the start of negotiations with Iran, but they are mistaken,” President Ahmadinejad said, adding that the West cannot overpower the Iranian nation by resorting to such outdated threatening measures.

He also lashed out at the West for using the carrot and stick policy, warning that “the Iranian nation will break their stick by its logic.”

The remarks came as earlier on June 9, the majority of the 15-member UNSC voted in favor of a US-drafted fourth round of sanctions which broadens previous financial and military restrictions against Iran.

The sanctions were approved as the International Atomic Energy Agency has in numerous reports asserted that its inspectors and surveillance equipment at Iran’s nuclear facilities have found no evidence of diversion in the country’s declared nuclear material.

Tehran has rejected the resolution as lacking legal basis, saying that such punitive measures would only strengthen the Iranian nation’s resolve in its pursuit of the nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.