(Xinhua) — Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Friday dismissed international sanctions against the country as a "childish thinking" and a "grave blunder." The idea of impeding Iran's progress through sanctions was a "childish thinking and a grave blunder," the official IRNA news agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying in the Gulf city of Assalouyeh.
He made the remarks in his address to a ceremony for the inauguration of the 9th and 10th phases of South Pars gas field in Assalouyeh in southern Boushehr Province.
Calling the inauguration of the gas field projects as "the national feast of self-confidence, innovation and flourish," Ahmadinejad said the event marked "a rejoicing feast for the great Iranian nation."
"The happiness will double if you consider the fact that the huge task was done under conditions when certain people around the world refused to act on their duty and promises, showing bad temper and misbehavior," he said. The Iranian president also said that the country's presence in the space and its progress in nuclear program were all because of "the superpowers' bad temper."
Ahmadinejad's remarks came one day after U.S. President Barack Obama announced that the United States would continue its sanctions against Iran as the Islamic republic was continuing its "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the U.S. security and economy.
Washington, long being at odds with Tehran, began imposing its routine sanctions since 1995 when former President Bill Clinton was in office. The sanctions, which have been extended on an annual basis by successive presidents, include prohibiting American companies aiding the development of the Iranian oil industry and halting trade, export and import as well as investment ties with Iran.