Millions of Iranian voters cast their ballots \u00e2\u20ac\u017dto elect the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s 11th president and their \u00e2\u20ac\u017drepresentatives in City and Village Councils, June 14, 2013\u00e2\u20ac\u017d\u00e2\u20ac\u008f.\u00e2\u20ac\u008f<\/p>\n
An Iranian Foreign Ministry official has downplayed the Western powers\u00e2\u201e\u00a2 language of bullying and threat against the Islamic Republic, saying Iranians will stand up to their extremism.\n<\/p>\n
In a Tuesday interview with Iran’s Jaam-e Jam international TV channel, Head of the Public and Media Diplomacy Department at Iran’s Foreign Ministry Ramin Mehmanparast said that major Western powers are incapable of recognizing and comprehending the characteristics of the Iranian nation.\n<\/p>\n
These powers refrain from accepting the fact that the great Iranian nation would resist their extremism to defend its national interests and the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s independence, he added.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cThey think economic pressure will make the Iranian nation abandon its principles, but they should know that the language of bullying and threat will have an opposite effect on the Iranian nation and that they should talk to the Iranian people with the language of wisdom,\u201d Mehmanparast pointed out.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Western officials thought that their pressure against the Iranian nation and economic problems would discourage the Iranians from turning out en masse in the presidential election, he said.<\/p>\n
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Using the false allegation as a pretext, Washington and the European Union have imposed illegal and unilateral sanctions against Tehran.\n<\/p>\n
Iran rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cA strong presence in the international arena will prepare the ground for scrapping sanctions\u2026 and we will witness economic growth,\u201d the Iranian official said.\n<\/p>\n
He reiterated that the Iranian nation would insist on its ideals and principles.\n<\/p>\n
Mehmanparast further stated that the Iranian people\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s massive participation in Friday\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s elections would guarantee the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s strong presence in the foreign policy arena.\n<\/p>\n
On Friday, millions of Iranian voters headed for polling stations to cast their ballots and choose the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s 11th president as well as their representatives in the city and village councils.\n<\/p>\n
Nearly 50.5 million Iranians, including more than 1.6 million first-time voters, were eligible to vote in the June 14 elections.\n<\/p>\n
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