Iran slams 'capitalists' for rising oil and food prices
Iran's president told a UN-sponsored summit in Rome on Tuesday that "powerful capitalists," who are trying to stop the development of nuclear energy, are to blame for high oil and food prices.
The summit hosted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization is taking place against the backdrop of rocketing food prices, which have caused riots in around 30 countries, especially those most dependent on food imports.
"On the one hand, influential capitalists artificially keep up the price of
Ads
oil and energy resources, while on the other they encourage the production of fuel from basic agricultural products," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said adding that what is worse "they oppose the production and use of nuclear energy."
Iran, suspected of plans to build weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program, is under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions for defying international demands to halt uranium enrichment, needed both in weapons production and electricity generation.
The Islamic Republic's president criticized UN bodies which he said are controlled by countries that only act in their own interests.
"How can the existing mechanisms resolve problems if every country is pursuing its own interests... promoting unjust policies in international affairs," he said.
Iran's president told a UN-sponsored summit in Rome on Tuesday that "powerful capitalists," who are trying to stop the development of nuclear energy, are to blame for high oil and food prices.
