Iran warns of ‘bullying’ consequences

Iranian leaders warned the West of consequences for its “bullying.” In separate speeches Friday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani each warned of “resistance” to Western “bullying” aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb. The tough talk came two days after the International Atomic Energy Agency issued a report saying Iran was not complying with U.N. Security Council resolutions barring uranium enrichment, a key step in making weapons. Non-compliance paves the way for an expansion of the sanctions the Security Council laid down in December. “If a few states do not believe that Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful, this is of no importance whatsoever,” Iranian state TV quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. Rafsanjani echoed, “If you continue this bullying way, you will definitely make many troubles for yourselves, the world and the region.”