Iran defiant over West’s ‘bully’ tactics

WESTERN sanctions won’t impede Iran from resuming research at a uranium enrichment plant, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani said yesterday in a denunciation of the international outcry over Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Iran on Tuesday broke UN seals at a uranium enrichment plant and said it was resuming research. Foreign ministers from Britain, France and Germany, who have spent two years trying to persuade Iran to halt its uranium conversion and enrichment activities, are scheduled to meet today to consider what steps to take.

Delivering Iran’s first reply to international criticism over the move, Mr Rafsanjani said he was “astonished” by the West’s attempt to “bully” Iran.