Iran need not sell oil to Europe: Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (MNA) – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran does not need to sell oil to European countries.

“Today, we have attained a status that we need not sell oil to Europe, and we are following our path determinedly,” Ahmadinejad said during a speech at a gathering of the personnel of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex in the city of Sarcheshmeh, the southeastern province of Kerman, on Thursday.

The European Union formally imposed an oil embargo on Iran and agreed to a freeze on the assets of the Central Bank of Iran on Monday, but existing contracts will be honored until July 1.

“The West must be aware that the Iranian nation… does not need them. You impose embargo on Iran’s oil but do not see that the United States has not bought oil from us for 30 years, but nothing happened, and Iran followed its path with dignity,” Ahmadinejad said, addressing European countries.

He stated that the sanctions are futile. “The recent brouhaha about Iran has been created because Iran is on the path of progress and development, and the enemy is seeking to hinder this progress.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, the president commented on the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran, saying, “The U.S. says the Iranian nation is not the target of sanctions and that they (sanctions) target officials while they are of the type that directly affect the masses and do not hurt officials.”

“The West has targeted our nation,” Ahmadinejad said.

He added, “They say, ‘we adopt sanctions because Iran does not negotiate.’ And this is while they adopted sanctions ahead of Iran’s negotiation and are seeking to find an excuse to avoid negotiations.”

“Why should we make up excuses? A person who has logic and has something to say does not avoid negotiations, but rather those who are bullies and hegemons make excuses,” he stated.

Addressing European countries, Ahmadinejad said, “You impose sanctions on our central bank, but did you have dealings with our central bank? The value of our annual foreign exchange transactions is 200 billion dollars, only 24 billions of which are with Europe.”

“At a certain juncture, 90 percent of our foreign exchange transactions were with Europe, but you are aware that the transactions have now decreased to 10 percent and (sanctions) cannot affect Iran’s economy,” he added.

Iran’s economy faces no problem

In his speech, Ahmadinejad also commented on the country’s economic situation and said, “As an informed person, I’m telling you that there is no problem in the country’s economy, and we enjoy economic stability.”

“However, the enemies are making every effort to exert pressure on Iran,” he added.