Rafsanjani: "Iran will not retreat in nuke row with West"

"The West thinks that this time it has managed to bring about consensus [at the United Nations Security Council] to decide on a statement or preliminary decision against Iran. Even though Iran will suffer over this issue, the West will suffer more," former President Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said at Friday prayers in Tehran. His speech was carried live on state television.

"I suggest that they do not put themselves and the region in danger of the consequences of their unwise decision," he said.

Rafsanjani described the international standoff over Tehran's nuclear program as 'sensitive' and said, "Definitely, under such circumstances the nation will defend its rights and no official would permit himself to bring Iran a historic disgrace by giving in over this right."

Friday marked Qods (Jerusalem) Day in Iran, and hard-line Islamists rallied in the Iranian capital against the state of Israel. Iran Focus