AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday vowed Iran would not halt its nuclear drive in the face of pressure from the West demanding it halt sensitive atomic work. TEHRAN (AFP) President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday vowed Iran would not halt its nuclear drive in the face of pressure from the West demanding it halt sensitive atomic work.
“Iran is a nuclear country and if you continue your mischief, Iran will tomorrow conquer higher summits,” Ahmadinejad told Western countries in a live televised speech in the holy city of Mashhad, northwest Iran.
“It will punch you (the West) in the mouth,” he told thousands of people gathered in the country’s holiest shrine, who responded with chants of “Death to America”.
The United States on Tuesday warned Iran it risked further isolation and new international sanctions after refusing to comply with UN Security Council resolutions over its disputed nuclear program.
“The Iranian nation will go on its way with power and will not stop until it conquers all the summits of honour,” Ahmadinejad said.
Iran on Tuesday announced it has started the installation of 6,000 new centrifuges to enrich uranium at its main nuclear plant in Natanz, prompting expressions of anger and concern from Western countries.
The West fears Iran could use enriched uranium to make a nuclear weapon, and Tehran’s refusal to suspend the process has been punished with three sets of UN Security Council sanctions and US pressure on its banking system.
“If you think you can make the Iranian nation refrain from its resolute will through sanctions and heavy economic pressures, you are wrong,” Ahmadinejad said.
