UN Will Not Affect Iran's Nuclear Policies

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that UN Security Council resolutions against Tehran would not affect Iran's nuclear policies even if 10 more of them were passed.

The UN Security Council passed a sanctions resolution on December 23rd against Iran, calling for the suspension of Iran's nuclear program, which the U.S. fears is aimed at making nuclear weapons. Iran has always denied the charge.

"The (UN) resolution was born dead and even if they issue 10 more of such resolutions it will not affect Iran's economy and policies," Mr Ahmadinejad said in a speech to parliament broadcast live on state television.

Anti-Western speeches have added to tensions with the West.

"They want to say, through a psychological war, that the resolution has been very effective ... Falsely, they want to say that Iran has paid a price," the president said.

"We have become a nuclear country today without promising anything to the major powers and this is a great victory that belongs to the people and the parliament," he added. Although the resolution targeted sensitive aspects of Iran's nuclear programme, businesses say investors are being scared off because of the fear of escalation and already meagre investment flows are drying up.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a German magazine that companies should beware of doing business with Iran and think about the possibility of more sanctions.