Iran Will Announce Advancements In Nuclear Program
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. (Creative Commons)
The president gave his speech via state television on the 33rd anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah, according to Reuters.
Ahmadinejad called the advancements "very important and very major" but gave no details of the country's work. State officials have said the progress is with "peaceful purposes."
Israel and the U.S. have both imposed sanctions on Iran, and have said they may resort to military action if those measures fail. Iran didn't take kindly to the threats.
From Reuters:
Iran has warned of a "painful" answer, saying it would hit Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf as well as block the vital Gulf oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
"If attacked by the Zionist regime (Israel), we will turn it to dust," said a Revolutionary Guards commander, Mohammad Shirdel, semi-official Fars news agency reported Saturday.
"Thousands of our missiles will target Israel and the 40 bases of America in the region," he added.
The nuclear dispute has fuelled tension as the West tightens sanctions. The European Union has agreed to ban Iranian oil imports by July and to freeze the assets of Iran's central bank.
Its measures reinforce those imposed by the United States as the West tries to force Tehran to return to talks before it produces enough nuclear material for an atomic bomb.
Neither side has shown much appetite for compromise. Iran says it will fight EU sanctions with counter-measures and its parliament plans legislation to ban oil exports to the EU.
Iranian officials brush off the impact of sanctions, while also proclaiming that Iranians will endure any hardship in support of their country's right to nuclear technology.
"I am saying openly that if you (the West) continue to use the language of force and threat, our nation will never succumb to your pressure," Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad has said he's willing to reopen nuclear talks, which fell apart last year when Iran refused to stop working on uranium enrichment. But Western powers are unwilling to negotiate until Iran agrees to discuss specifically its uranium enrichment efforts.
