Western sanctions against Iran are "only a little brake," which will not stop the country from pursuing its nuclear programmes, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday, dpa reported.
"You (West) are doing everything such as oil (embargo) and currency (halt on bank transfers) to stop the will of the Iranian nation but this might only be a little brake which will not stop us from continuing our move," the ISNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
Sanctions by the United Nations, United States and European Union, to push Tehran to change its stance on its nuclear programmes, have in recent months led to an economic crisis in the country.
"Friendship with Iran would be to your (West) benefit, but if you don't, you will regret this in the coming years," the president warned.
Rejecting Western concerns over secret weapons projects, Iran says its nuclear programmes are solely for peaceful purposes and in line with international regulations.