Iranian President Shrugs Off US Renewal of Sanctions

By Edward Yeranian

Cairo
13 March 2009

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, speaking at the inauguration of a major gas project in the South Pars gasfield, said that his country is self-reliant and is therefore not worried about U.S. economic sanctions.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad says President Obama's renewal of U.S. economic sanctions on his country has no impact because Tehran relies solely on its own abilities.
His comments follow Thursday's announcement that the United States was extending economic sanctions against Tehran because it continued to pose an "extraordinary threat" to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States.

It was a routine extension of punitive measures imposed by former U.S. president Bill Clinton in 1995.

Mr. Ahmedinejad told Iran's Press TV that Iran was completely self-reliant and does not care what other nations do.

"We think the path of the Iranian nation is very clear. The Iranian nation is strong and relies on itself," he said. "There is a saying by the holy prophet of Islam that if the science exists in heaven, the Iranians will find it. Now, there is no need for heavens. We can do it on earth. We don't need anyone and because of that we rely on our own abilities. We have no worries, no concerns. There are no obstacles. God willing, the Iranian nation's advancement is gaining speed."

Mr. Ahmedinejad called the U.S. sanctions "a childish idea and a big mistake."

The Iranian president was speaking in Assaloueh at the start of the ninth and tenth phases of the vast South Pars gas field. He said 60 percent of the project is being developed by Iranian contractors, claiming that sanctions had merely reinforced Iran's intrinsic abilities to get things done.

"The strength of this project is a celebration of national self confidence," Mr. Ahmedinejad said. "We are thankful and are also happy for the favor our enemies have unintentionally done for us. You wanted to stop our prosperity through aggressive measures, but your efforts opened the way for us to progress and being proud of our abilities."

Iran has been under various U.S. sanctions since the regime of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi, a U.S.-ally in the Gulf, was toppled by the Islamic Revolution in 1979.