Iran kicks off revolution fete with nuclear defiance

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070201/ts_afp/irannuclearpoliticsrevolution_070201101443;_ylt=Aj.wdaYGKlhs_NLXV23qA0bMWM0F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-

Iran kicks off revolution fete with nuclear defiance

by Farhad Pouladi 1 hour, 10 minutes ago

TEHRAN (AFP) -Iran has kicked off a series of anniversary festivities for the Islamic revolution by shrugging off UN sanctions over its nuclear programme and urging national unity against US "conspiracies".

Iranian officials have promised a major announcement of progress in its controversial programme during the 10-day celebration, but leaders first focused on emphasising Iran's defiance in the nuclear standoff and its position of strength.

"The language of sanctions belongs to the past," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday as he paid tribute at the shrine of the 1979 revolution's late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran is a powerful nation with extensive ties and other nations will support us even if they are pressured," he added at the shrine, flanked by Khomeini's grandson Hassan.

Sanctions "will not affect a great nation. We have expanding economic ties and they can, at most, be just an irritation to our people.