Supreme Leader Downplays Effects of Sanctions on Iran's Progress

29 August 2011 | 19:21 Code : 15863 Latest Headlines

FNA-- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei stressed that the international and the West's unilateral sanctions against Tehran have left no negative impact on the country's progress and merely strengthened Iran's independence and national resolve.

The enemies were speaking about crippling sanctions for Iran in the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2011), but fortunately not only the sanctions did not turn out to be crippling, but also Iran achieved self-sufficiency in numerous industrial and scientific areas," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.

The leader noted that the US and its allies will certainly fail in imposing sanctions against Islamic Republic of Iran.

"In view of the international realities, there is no chance for imposing sanctions in the long-run. These sanctions should be vigilantly thwarted through economic Jihad, relying on God and making clever and target-oriented moves," Ayatollah Khamenei added.

Supreme Leader made the remarks in a meeting with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet members in Tehran on Sunday.

The UN Security Council has imposed four sets of sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt peaceful nuclear program.

The embargo mainly targets Iran's banking and energy sectors as well as insurance and shipping industry. Also the EU and America have imposed unilateral sanctions against Iran.

Iran insists its enrichment work only seeks peaceful purposes including meeting medical needs and power generation.