TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is criticizing the threat of new sanctions against his country, saying Iran can survive without the United States and its allies.
Ahmadinejad told NBC News in an interview Wednesday that Iran was justified in barring further visits by United Nations atomic inspectors.
"We in Iran are in a position to meet our own requirements," he said.
The U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions in June, saying Iran has refused to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations with the five permanent members and Germany. Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed solely at producing nuclear energy.
Ahmadinejad's comments come a week before he is scheduled to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
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