Iran says sanctions may slow nuclear program but won’t stop it

Iran admits sanctions could slow nuclear program

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s nuclear chief says sanctions could delay Tehran’s controversial atomic program but would not stop it.

Program head Ali Akbar Salehi says the sanctions could “slow down the job but they would not stop activities,” according to the semiofficial ISNA news agency.

He also said in Wednesday report that if Iran faces problems obtaining equipment for its enrichment program, “We will produce them by ourselves.”

Earlier in June, the U.N. slapped its latest round of sanctions on Iran. The EU and the U.S. have also imposed additional unilateral sanctions against the country in hopes of curtailing its nuclear program.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons through its nuclear enrichment program. Iran denies the charge.