Ahmadinejad calls UN resolutions against Iran worthless

Nov 24, 2008, 9:01 GMT

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday dismissed three United Nations Security Council resolutions issued against Iran as worthless and with no impact on the country's plans to develop its nuclear programmes.

'They (UN veto powers) thought that we would surrender as soon as they issued the first resolution against us but as I said at that time, they can issue as many resolutions as they like, fact is that these resolutions are worthless and just a piece of torn paper without credit, legitimacy and any impact,' Ahmadinejad was quoted by ISNA news agency as saying.

'No world power can deprive Iran from achieving its goals. The world has changed and the time that one orders and the others obey is definitely over,' the president said while inaugurating an industrial project in south-western Khuzestan province.

Despite three UN resolutions and financial sanctions, Ahmadinejad has so far rejected demands to suspend the country's controversial nuclear projects, including the uranium-enrichment programme.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has 14 times confirmed the peaceful and civil nature of the Iranian nuclear programmes, and demanded an end to politicizing the country's nuclear dossier.

Iran says allegations made by IAEA member states, especially the United States, that Iran was following a secret military programme lacked documented proof.

While calling on the West to take care of its own financial crisis instead of accusing Iran, Ahmadinejad also attacked local political opponents' efforts to link the global crisis to Iran's economy.

'The idea that if the West sneezes, we will get fever is wrong. Even if the dollar price drops below 40 dollars (per barrel), still Iran would be capable to manage itself,' the president said.

Opposition leaders said the global economic crisis also affected Iran, especially the oil revenue calculations in next year's budget, and that Tehran should be concerned rather than dismissive.

Ahmadinejad claimed on Sunday that Iran's economy would be able to cope with oil prices going even as low as five dollars per barrel.

On Friday, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries - of which Iran is a member - said the barrel price had dropped to just over 44 dollars.

Since his presidency in August 2005, Ahmadinejad has failed to implement his promised economic reforms and the country is facing an official inflation rate of 30 per cent, although economic observers say the true rate is much higher, especially in real estate.