Iran: Sanction Threats Don't Scare Us

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday his country would not be frightened by threats to impose sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, hours after Britain's U.N. ambassador said the Security Council would begin discussing sanctions next week.

"Those who threaten Iran by sanctions and embargo should know that this nation lived under the hardest situation in the past 27 years and achieved nuclear technology. This nation will not be frightened by the threats," state-run television quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.

Britain's U.N. ambassador announced earlier Thursday that the U.N. Security Council would start discussing a resolution next week that would place sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, a key component in developing nuclear weapons.
The council's decision to take up a sanctions resolution follows talks between European and Iranian negotiators that failed to persuade Tehran to suspend its enrichment program during discussions on its nuclear program.

"I expect the Iranian dossier to re-emerge in New York in the course of next week, Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said.

But in a speech broadcast live on state-run television earlier Thursday, Ahmadinejad praised European efforts for negotiations while warning the United States that it would be humiliated if it did not join diplomatic efforts.

"We do warn if you do not return to the correct way, your destiny will be the same as the Pharaoh. You will face humiliation," Ahmadinejad said without elaborating to a crowd in Firouzkooh, 75 miles east of Tehran.

"Fortunately, some European countries are ready for negotiations. I hope they appreciate this opportunity," he said.

The United States and some of its allies claim Iran is seeking to develop an atomic bomb, but Tehran insists its nuclear program is meant only to produce fuel for energy.

The five permanent Security Council members — the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia — plus Germany are seeking to persuade Iran to accept incentives in return for halting enrichment. Iran missed an Aug. 31 deadline to stop enrichment or face possible sanctions.

Divisions among Security Council members remained Thursday.

The U.S and Britain favor immediate punitive measures. Russia and China — both major commercial partners of Iran — are reluctant to agree to immediate punitive measures. France also has expressed reluctance.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Thursday that dialogue with Iran must continue even if talks about its nuclear program fail.

"I think that even if we fail now, we should maintain the doors open for dialogue with Iran," Solana said after meeting in Rome with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema.