Rafsanjani: Sanctions will backfire

Former Iranian president says many countries will be affected as a result of UN sanctions against Tehran
Dudi Cohen and AP

Former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani said Sunday that Iran will never give up its right to possess nuclear technology and that western and Middle Eastern countries will suffer as a result of UN-imposed sanctions on his country.

Speaking to worshipers after prayers for al-Adha, he criticized UN Resolution 1737 which bans the sale of technologies that could assist its nuclear and missile programs.

Tehran vs. UN

Iran: We'll install 3,000 centrifuges at Natanz / Associated Press

Several hours after UN Security Council votes to impose sanctions designed to stop nuclear efforts, Tehran's top nuclear negotiator says Islamic republic will push forward immediately with efforts to enrich uranium

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"This is a dangerous decision. It will not lead to the wanted results. No resolution will lead us to abandon the nuclear program," he said.

Rafsanjani said that by backing sanctions against Iran, western countries were "looking for trouble for themselves and the region. The problems will not be limited to Iran. Many will suffer from the smoke from this fire,"

The UN Security Council on December 23 voted unanimously to impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment — a process that produces the material for either nuclear reactors or bombs.

But Rafsanjani appeared to declare his willingness to work with the UN nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to resolve Iran‘s differences over its nuclear program with the international community.

Rafsanjani did not give conditions for negotiating, but Western countries have required Iran to suspend enriching uranium as a requirement for holding talks — a condition Iran has rejected.