Iran warns to respond to possible new UN sanctions by all means

Source: Xinhuanet | 03-22-2007 08:56

TEHRAN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday warned the country will respond to possible new UN sanctions by all means to defend itself from threats.

Khamenei made the remarks in a televised speech from the northeastern city of Mashhad, saying Iran will use "all its capabilities to strike the enemies" if the country faces threats.

The supreme leader also said in the speech that Iran will continue its nuclear activities outside international regulations if the UN Security Council insists Tehran stop uranium enrichment.

"If they take illegal actions, we too can take illegal actions," Khamenei said, without elaborating what kind of "illegal actions" Iran will pursue if it faces new sanctions.

Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stressed that there would be no concessions on Iran's nuclear rights amid looming vote by UN Security Council on new sanctions against Tehran.

"The Iranian nation firmly stands behind its nuclear rights and the West will eventually have to acknowledge Iran's legitimate rights," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech early Wednesday morning on the occasion of the Iranian New Year.

The UN Security Council was scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss a draft resolution that was agreed on last week by six major states -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

Diplomats at the United Nations said a vote on the draft, which toughened sanctions against Tehran already adopted by the council last December, was likely to follow a few days later.

Ahmadinejad has planned to attend the voting session of the UN Security Council in New York and make a speech to defend Iran's nuclear rights before the voting takes place.

Editor:Du Xiaodan