Sanctions will not bring Iranian economy to its knees: Iranian ambassador

TEHRAN,Aug.10(MNA) – The Iranian ambassador to France said that the sanctions will not bring the Iranian economy to its knees. Ambassador Ali Ahani made the remarks during a recent interview with Benoit Faucon, a reporter for Dow Jones Newswires, the Wall Street Journal reported on August 4. “We will continue (our nuclear program) regardless of sanctions while respecting our commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards,” Ahani stated. Iran can withstand the new tightening measures taken to hurt its revenue, he added. “They think they will bring the Iranian economy to its knees, but, after decades of sanctions, rest assured, as proved in the past, that we will turn these sanctions into opportunities,” the Iranian ambassador said. He added, “Those who think the people will rise up because of the sanctions are wrong. The sanctions will bring more unity to the Iranian people.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Ahani stated that Tehran may consider downgrading its nuclear enrichment activities in exchange for an easing of the sanctions. He made the remarks when asked how Iran would react if the West proposed ending sanctions in exchange for an Iranian commitment to limit its nuclear enrichment to 5 percent. Such a trade-off “can be considered,” he stated. “Compromise could be reached if and when there is good will on the other side,” he added. “The discussions about 20 percent enrichment need simultaneous talks on termination of sanctions,” Ahani stated. But he said that such an option could be considered only if the West commits to supply its own uranium enriched to 20 percent and end its economic restrictions against Iran. In addition, Ahani commented on the XVI Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, which is scheduled to be held in Tehran from August 26 to 31, and said, “We want the Movement of the Non-Aligned to blossom, to carry more weight in the international arena.”