Iranian President: "They cannot stop us" and we will overcome the sanctions after the Security Council decision

In a strong response to the UN Security Council's decision not to lift sanctions on his country, Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian pledged today, Saturday, that Iran is capable of overcoming any return to the imposition of sanctions on it.

Bezhakian's statement came a day after the UN Security Council voted against permanently lifting sanctions on Tehran, a move that came in response to a process initiated by Britain, France, and Germany last month to reimpose sanctions, accusing Iran of not adhering to the nuclear agreement reached in 2015. Tehran has consistently denied any intention to develop a nuclear weapon.

Iranian state television quoted President Bezhakian as saying: "Through the mechanism of reimposing sanctions, they block the way, but minds and ideas are what open the way or build it."

The president added, showing confidence in his country's ability to withstand: "They cannot stop us. They can strike Natanz or Fordow (the nuclear facilities attacked by the United States and Israel last June), but they do not realize that it is humans who built Natanz and they will rebuild it."

Bezhakian also reaffirmed his country's steadfast position, stating: "We will never surrender in the face of excessive demands because we have the ability to change the situation."

Under the "mechanism of reimposing sanctions," UN sanctions on Iran will be reinstated unless an agreement on postponement is reached between Tehran and the major European powers within about a week. These sanctions will include a ban on weapons, uranium enrichment and reprocessing, and ballistic missile activities capable of carrying nuclear warheads, in addition to freezing assets of individuals and entities related to Iran around the world.