Reuters: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday some world powers were bullying Iran over its nuclear programme. SHAHRIAR, Iran (Reuters) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday some world powers were bullying Iran over its nuclear programme.
He did not name the countries but it appeared to be a reference to the United States and European states which have shown increasing frustration with Iran for its failure to halt uranium enrichment, as demanded by the U.N. Security Council.
The United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany agreed in London on Friday to discuss possible U.N. Security Council sanctions to punish Iran.
“Their latest decision was to gather all their political force and frown at us, cast bad looks and shout with empty threats to force us to retreat,” Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech in a rally in a town west of the capital.
“These three or four countries are bullying and have no right to interfere in these issues and the Security Council has no right to interfere,” he said.
Russia and China have opposed moves towards sanctions.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would not give up its right to develop the nuclear fuel cycle, which Iran says it wants for peaceful goals but the West fears will be used to make atomic bombs.
“Their stance over Iran is becoming weaker and weaker and the Iranian nation’s stance is becoming more powerful,” the president said.
His speech came a day after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s highest authority, said the Islamic Republic would pursue its right to develop nuclear technology and suggested Iran would not repeat a move to suspend enrichment.
Iran previously suspended enrichment under a deal agreed with the European Union but that deal broke down last year.
