Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday mocked the United Nations Security Council for planning a resolution aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
“The Iranian nation won’t give a damn about such useless resolutions,” Ahmadinejad told an audience in northwestern Iran. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a report confirming that Tehran is enriching uranium in defiance of the international community.
“Today’s IAEA report should remind us all that the Iranian government’s intransigence is not acceptable,” President Bush told reporters in the Rose Garden. “It should remind the Iranians that the world is united and concerned about their desire to have not only a nuclear weapon, but the capacity to make a nuclear weapon.”
Friday was the deadline for Tehran to stop enriching uranium and resume international talks on the topic, as demanded by the Security Council 30 days earlier. While the original demand was for voluntary cooperation, the Security Council will meet next week to consider a resolution imposing tough new economic and political sanctions against Iran. Such sanctions are opposed by China and Russia, however, and they could block any action against Tehran at the U.N. Bush was asked by a reporter whether Ahmadinejad is “someone you can work with.”
“That’s going to be his choice, eventually,” Bush replied. “And it’s going to be very important for Mr. Ahmadinejad to recognize the world is united.”
The president said he will discuss the issue next week during a White House visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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AP contributed to this report
