Iranian leaders have condemned the U.N. Security Council for imposing sanctions on its controversial nuclear program, vowing to speed up the development of it nuclear capabilities.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Sunday compared the sanctions to a "torn piece of paper," and said the Security Council will regret its move.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said the sanctions will have no effect on Iran's will to pursue what he called the country's peaceful nuclear program.
In response to the U.N. resolution, he says Tehran will begin Sunday installing 3000 uranium-enriching centrifuges at Natanz, the site of a uranium enrichment plant.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to impose sanctions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology, in an effort to stop uranium enrichment work that could be used in bombs.
The resolution will freeze the assets of key companies and people the U.N. considers affiliated with Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The Security Council also promises further non-military sanctions if Iran does not comply.
The resolution imposes a ban on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and ballistic missiles. It also freezes the assets of key companies and people the U.N. considers affiliated with Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
The United States pushed for a strong sanctions resolution because of Iran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment by an August 31st U.N. deadline. The U.S. and its Western allies believe Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
