Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that pressure from Western powers to keep Iran in economic isolation had in fact spurred the country to become a space and nuclear power. Ahmadinejad charged that Western powers were unable to stop Iran's technological and scientific progress with their "spiteful actions." He also termed international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program a "grave blunder1."

• 1. “Iranian president declares his country a space and nuclear power,” The Russian News and Information Agency, at http://en.rian.ru/world/20090313/120554424.html