Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei (R) greets people before starting his speech in Mashhad, 924
km east of Tehran March 21, 2007. Khamenei warned on Wednesday Iran
would hit back with everything it has if attacked over its nuclear
programme. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo
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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.
UNITED NATIONS, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council held formal consultations Wednesday on a draft new resolution on Iran's nuclear program, with three members presenting amendments.
South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar made proposals on amending the text of the draft cosponsored by Britain, France and Germany but agreed by China, Russia and the United States.
RAN, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday 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.
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