TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's president says Western sanctions could cause a short delay in Tehran's nuclear program but will not slow it down substantially.
State TV quoted Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday as claiming that the "West is not happy with Iran's progress" in various technological fields, including uranium enrichment, which is a possible pathway to nuclear arms.
His remarks come just days after Tehran again rebuffed visiting U.N. nuclear agency inspectors from visiting the Parchin military base near the Iranian capital.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has linked the site to suspected secret nuclear weapons research. Iran denies that, insisting Parchin is only a conventional military facility.
The West has imposed a series of punitive oil and banking measures on Iran over concerns Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge.
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