(JUNE 4-10)

According to reports, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said that unilateral and multilateral sanctions on Iran have been ineffective and has not prevented the progress of the country. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the death anniversary of former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei said that the only effect of the sanctions is the deepening of enmity in Iran towards the West. 1

In another development, the Director-General of the Iranian Presidential Office for International Affairs has said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be able to guarantee peace and security in the region. He pointed to China and India as economic powers, and Iran and Russia as possessing energy resources, and thus being able to adapt the SCO to be a “powerful economic, political and security pole in the world".2 The remarks came prior to the SCO Heads of State meeting that was held in Beijing on June 6-7, 2012, in which President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad participated. 3

• 1. “Western sanctions ineffective - Iranian supreme leader”, Islamic Republic of Iran News Network, June 3, 2012
• 2. “Iran official says Shanghai bloc able to guarantee global security”, Islamic Republic News Agency, June 3, 2012
• 3. “Iran president to visit China on 5 June to participate in SCO meeting”, ISNA website, June 5, 2012