Sanctions on Iran 'Illegal': Ahmadinejad

Today Ahmadinejad attacked "illegal" sanctions on Iran and said that its "peaceful and transparent" nuclear policy should be left to UN watchdog, Reuters reports. Speaking at the UN, he also slammed the "illegal Zionist regime" and blasted the US for occupying Iraq. "The occupiers ... do not even have the courage to declare their defeat and exit Iraq," he said.

He shrugged off concerns about Iran's pact with a nuke watchdog group, saying, "I officially announce that in our opinion the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed and has turned into an ordinary agency matter." He added that Iran is open to "constructive talks with all parties." Present were members of the UN Security Council, which has already hit Iran with two rounds of sanctions and may approve a third. (More Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stories.)