Reuters: A confidential Iranian government report has highlighted the damaging effects of wide-ranging sanctions against the country if Iran continues its nuclear programme, French newspaper Le Monde reported on its website. PARIS (Reuters) – A confidential Iranian government report has highlighted the damaging effects of wide-ranging sanctions against the country if Iran continues its nuclear programme, French newspaper Le Monde reported on its website.
Le Monde said it had obtained a copy of the report, which is more than 100 pages long and was spearheaded by Iran’s foreign affairs and defence ministry.
Le Monde said the report recommended “making as much political effort as possible to avoid receiving sanctions, while maintaining the country’s national interests and honour.”
It said the report had been given to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but the government wanted to keep it low profile.
Iran has been pushing ahead with its nuclear development programme saying it is designed to meet the country’s electricity needs. Western powers led by the United States fear Iran may be secretly developing nuclear weapons.
On Dec. 23, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution against Iran, calling for the country to halt uranium enrichment within 60 days.
The resolution bans the transfer of sensitive nuclear materials and know-how to Iran and freezes the financial assets of those associated with Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The Security Council could impose harsher sanctions if Iran fails to comply.
Le Monde said the Iranian government report showed that sanctions could cost the oil-rich state between $1.5-$2 billion in lost revenues a year.
The report also stressed the importance of sending an optimistic message to the Iranian people about Iran’s ability to withstand sanctions, but highlighted how tough sanctions could destabilise the entire country.
“Iran would be forced to change its national priorities, and to use most of its resources to prevent any major social unrest, which could lead to a deterioration in the living conditions of a major part of the population,” it said, according to Le Monde.
