Iran warns of revenge if sanctions imposed

Tehran, Dec 16: Iran will exact painful revenge on countries opposed to its nuclear programme if the UN Security Council imposes sanctions on Tehran, the country's chief nuclear negotiator said yesterday.

''Imposing sanctions on Iran will not help resolve the issue,'' Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told reporters.

''If they want to deprive Iran of its nuclear work they are making a big mistake. If they want to act in a way to decrease our capabilities through sanctions we will be obliged to use painful methods in return,'' he said without elaborating.

Iran has previously said its retaliation against a punitive UN resolution could range from reviewing cooperation with the UN's atomic watchdog to restricting its crude oil exports.

Iran says its nuclear programme will be used only for peaceful ends, such as electricity generation, and not to make bombs. It has refused to obey UN Security Council demands that it halt all sensitive nuclear work, such as uranium enrichment.

After weeks of talks permanent Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany are close to agreement on a draft UN resolution against Iran.

The draft resolution includes a ban on exports or imports of materials and technology related to uranium enrichment as well as ballistic missile weapons delivery systems.

Diplomats say Russia, which along with China has blocked US and European efforts to impose tougher sanctions on Iran, still wants some changes to the draft, particularly clauses imposing a travel ban on some Iranian officials.

Larijani played down the impact of the sanctions being contemplated by the six world powers.

''These sanctions include sensitive missile and nuclear equipment which we don't have and we are not after ... This is mainly a psychological war,'' he said.

REUTERS

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