• 11:31
  • Wednesday ,09 June 2010
العربية

Ahmadinejad defiant ahead of UN nuclear sanctions vote

By-BBC

International News

00:06

Wednesday ,09 June 2010

Ahmadinejad defiant ahead of UN nuclear sanctions vote
 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has hit a defiant note ahead of a vote expected this week on fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
At a summit in Istanbul, Mr Ahmadinejad suggested Tehran would walk away from talks if new measures were imposed.
 
He criticised Russian backing for the draft sanctions and urged the US to change its policies toward Iran.
 
And he warned a nuclear fuel-swap deal brokered recently by Turkey and Brazil was a one-off opportunity.
 
The draft sanctions target Iran's nuclear programme, and - if passed - would tighten financial restrictions and shipping inspections, as well as expanding a limited arms embargo.
 
The BBC's Barbara Plett, at the UN, says a number of countries may not support the resolution, but none of them has a power of veto.
 
Diplomats expect the vote to happen as early as Wednesday and there is little doubt the resolution will be adopted, she adds.
 
Western nations suspect Iran's nuclear programme has military aims, which is denied by Tehran.