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Ahmadinejad Scorns United States in Speech

In a speech given in Ahvaz to a crowd of people, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mocked the United States and vowed that his country would humiliate the US in the future, just as it done in the past. Ahmadinejad said that nothing would stop his country pursuing its dream of obtaining nuclear power, not even the recent US-backed sanctions imposed on Teheran by the United Nations Security Council. "Let the world know that from the Iranian nation`s point of view, this resolution has no validity," Ahmadinejad declared.

Last month?s resolutions imposed partial sanctions on the country, including freezing the bank accounts and other assets of 10 companies and 12 Iranian individuals who are connected with Iran?s nuclear program. World powers negotiated for months to try and come out with a punitive policy that was acceptable to all the nations. Western powers, backed by the United States, wanted stricter measures to be taken to halt Iran?s uranium enrichment program, however China and Russia vetoed sanctions that seemed to harsh.

Ahmadinejad is facing increasing pressure at home to focus more on domestic policies and to lower his profile on the international front. Iran faces an official 12% inflation rate ? although the number is believed to be much higher- as well as having 3 million people unemployed. In recent municipal elections, many of Ahmadinejad?s allies were dealt a stunning blow when they failed to get voted back in. Many see this as a sign of the President?s weakening power and thus explain his need to stir the crowds with anti-west incitement to distract them from growing domestic problems.