Ahmadinejad calls new sanctions opportunity for Iranian people to stand with their heads held high

At a conference for the unknown soldier attended by ministers, deputy ministers, managers and members of Iran’s intelligence community, the President said, “The Iranian people, which has been directly confronting imperialism for the past 33 years, and the finest, most reliable and righteous soldiers and guards are in the Intelligence Ministry. The Islamic Revolution inIranis the most significant event since the founding of Islam. Revolutionary Iran derives from the pure Islam of Mohammad, and this has no meaning without confrontation of imperialism. If we adhere to our principles, we will always confront the wicked, currently symbolized by the United States. Through the plot of sanctions, the enemy is trying to weakenIran. The current sanctions are the strongest and most severe imposed to date on Iran, but the enemy’s reasoning that they can get Iran to submit through sanctions is wrong and attributed to purely material calculations. We must transform the sanctions into an opportunity and remove the oil weapon from the hands of the enemy. We must withstand pressures and endure this phase with our heads held high.”