Iran continues to shrug off UN sanctions

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-26-2006 09:07

Iran continues to shrug off Saturday's UN Security Council resolution which imposes sanctions against the country for refusing to end nuclear enrichment.

Iranian leaders have condemned the resolution as illegal. And President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also hinted the resolution could alter Iran's relationship with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.

Gholam Hossein Elham, Iranian government spokesman, said, "We have a legal movement in our nuclear activities which is in line with international treaties. We've acted legally, under the supervision of the IAEA and within the framework of the law."

The thrust of the sanctions is a ban on imports and exports of materials and technology relating to uranium enrichment, reprocessing and heavy-water reactors, as well as ballistic missile delivery systems.

Mohammad Shabastari, Iranian resident, said, "Sanctions will not affect us at all because we have been under sanctions for years, and sanctions will only increase solidarity between the people and the government."

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani says the country will respond to sanctions but by pressing ahead with plans to install 3,000 centrifuges by March at its pilot plant in Natanz.

On Monday, several Tehran University students rallied outside offices of the multi-national petrochemical giant, Shell company. They've called on their government to restrict the economic and commercial activities of countries, which voted against Iran in the UN Security Council.

Editor:Du Xiaodan