DAR AL ISLAM-IRAN: UN TO REGRET SANCTIONS, SO SAYS IRAN

Iran's leader: U.N. will regret nuclear sanctions

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran vowed Sunday to push forward with efforts to enrich uranium and to change its relations with the international nuclear watchdog, after the U.N. Security Council imposed sanctions designed to stop the country's disputed nuclear efforts.

Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Security Council would regret voting in favor of the sanctions, saying he was sorry the West lost its chance to make amends with Iran.

"I am sorry for you who lost the opportunity for friendship with the nation of Iran. You yourself know that you cannot damage the nation of Iran an iota," the state-run news agency, IRNA, quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

Ahmadinejad also said the United Nations must accept Iran's nuclear program and warned that sanctions would not harm his country.

"You have to accept that Iran has the technology of producing nuclear fuel. And it will celebrate it in coming anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution in February. You, resorting to these sort of activities, cannot achieve anything except dissolving your reputation," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.

On Saturday, the Security Council voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, increasing international pressure on the government to prove that it is not trying to make nuclear weapons.

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Iranian Response:

Boroujerdi: UNSC's anti-Iran resolution issued under US pressures

Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi here on Tuesday called the recent UNSC's resolutions against Iran's peaceful nuclear activities as a politically-motivated one issued under US pressures.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Majlis open session on Tuesday, he said it is quite natural for Tehran not to heed the resolutions issued by the UNSC against the country's peaceful nuclear activities.

Referring Iran's nuclear dossier to the UNSC especially after reports presented by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei who repeatedly declared that Iran never deviated from IAEA rules, was a politically-motivated move taken under US pressures.

Despite the efforts made by Russia and China to soften the atmosphere, the UNSC issued a resolution against Iran, he said, adding that the country regards the move as illegal.

Majlis passed a double-urgency bill to oblige the government to revise its cooperation with the IAEA, he said.

The double-urgency bill which authorizes the government to revise its relations with IAEA is like a blank check which allows the government to meet the country's national interests by any means.

Revising cooperation with IAEA means that the government is allowed to take any necessary action to safeguard the country's national interests, he underlined.

On probable withdrawal of Iran from Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said such a plan is not on the agenda for the time being although a number of Majlis representatives have called for it.


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Gov't backs bill on revising relations with IAEA: FM

The government supports a bill to revise Iran's relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), currently under review by the Majlis, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said here Tuesday.

Mottaki made the remark at the end of Majlis session held Tuesday behind closed doors.

The minister attended the session to brief MPs on the latest developments with respect to Iran's nuclear case and the 1737 UN Security Council resolution adopted Saturday.

"I should have given information to the Majlis deputies on nuclear issues," he said.

Pertinent Links:

1) Iran's leader: U.N. will regret nuclear sanctions

2) Boroujerdi: UNSC's anti-Iran resolution issued under US pressures

3) Gov't backs bill on revising relations with IAEA: FM

4) A copy of the 'resolution' has not been made available...At least I cannot find it, I am looking though... U.N.S.C.