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Tehran (AFP): President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday lashed out at domestic critics of his confrontational stance in the standoff on Iran's nuclear programme, accusing them of “repeating the ememies' slogans”. “Unfortunately, certain people at home are falsifying information in a bid to tarnish the great pride of the Iranian people,” state television quoted the president as saying in a speech.
“They favour compromise and repeat the slogans of the enemies, but this will have no effect,” he added.
While political factions and the press remain strongly in favour of Iran's right to a nuclear programme, criticism has mounted in recent weeks even among conservatives over the president's fiery handling of the issue.
Two conservative newspapers, Jomhuri Eslami and Hamshahri, published editorials lambasting Ahmadinejad for commenting on the nuclear issue during speeches in provincial towns.
The president has also been the subject of criticism by conservative MPs for his government's handling of the economy and the timing of a recent trip to Latin America.
Ahmadinejad also said on Thursday the UN Security Council's decision to impose sanctions would not stop Tehran pressing ahead with its nuclear programme, saying Iran had now become a “nuclear” country.
“Today, Iran has become nuclear and the actions and the propaganda of the enemies will not affect the determination of the people,” he said.
“The question of sanctions is something that goes back 30 years. The (sanctions) resolution, which aims to stop the Iranian nuclear programme, has the objective of weakening the will of the people but they will not succeed.”
“Thanks to God, we have conquered even more difficult summits and we are ready to face all eventualities.”
The UN Security Council's sanctions were imposed over Iran's failure to suspend uranium enrichment, which Western powers fear could be used to make a nuclear weapon.
Iran insists that its nuclear drive is solely aimed at generating energy for a growing population.
