Tehran: Iran will not retreat "an iota" from its right to develop nuclear energy despite Western-led sanctions, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
"They (West) should know that this (Iranian) nation will not retreat even an iota from its inalienable rights," Xinhua quoted him as saying.
The president was referring to Western sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme.
Earlier this month, US President Barack Obama ordered the treasury department to target foreign entities and individuals who evade the US sanctions against Iran.
The US has urged India to further cut its oil imports from Iran.
Iranian foreign ministry said any new sanctions against Iran by the West will "affect the spirit" of next month's nuclear talks.
The last round of nuclear talks between Iran and the UN Security Council's five permanent members -- US, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany ended in Istanbul in April, with all sides describing the talks as positive. They have agreed to meet again in the Iraqi capital May 23.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 15:39