Iran defiant at UN sanctions move
Iran will reject talks on its nuclear programme if slapped with new sanctions, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday as the UN Security Council geared up for fresh talks on a fourth sanctions resolution.
"I have said that the US government and its allies are mistaken if they think they can brandish the stick of resolution and then sit down to talk with us, such a thing will not happen," the Iranian leader told a news conference here.
He also said a nuclear fuel-swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil was an offer that would not be repeated.
Ahmadinejad urged Russia not to side with Iran's enemies and said the US would lose if new measures were passed.
The sanctions would tighten financial curbs and shipping inspections on Iran, and expand a limited arms embargo.
Diplomats expect the vote to happen as early as Wednesday and there is little doubt the resolution will be adopted, says the BBC's Barbara Plett, at the UN.
PUTIN MEETING
At a news conference in Istanbul on Tuesday, where he has been attending a regional security summit, Ahmadinejad urged President Barack Obama to reconsider.
"I'm not saying I'm totally disappointed but if he fails to make a change, the first ones to lose would be President Obama and the people of the United States," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Ahmadinejad also urged Russia to be "careful not to be beside the enemies of the Iranian people".
Although Moscow has often cautioned against tough action on Iran, it is backing the current draft UN resolution.
Ahmadinejad is expected to hold talks later on Tuesday with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is also attending the summit in Turkey.
The Iranian leader added: "I have said that if the American government and its allies think that they can raise a baton called a resolution and then sit and talk to us, they are strongly mistaken.”
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