Iran may react in face of sanctions

TEHRAN, June 30 (UPI) -- Tehran has the right to respond if its vessels are inspected under new U.N. Security Council sanctions, the Iranian president said.

The U.N. Security Council voted June 9 to place new sanctions on Iran that allow for searches of banned good in cargo to or from Iran and increases the number of individuals and companies subject to travel bans and an asset freeze.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran reserved the right to defend its international rights, state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports.

"We reserve the right of retaliation for ourselves ... we are able to defend our rights," the president said of the sanctions.

Iran is accused of developing the technology needed to develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists it is operating according to international protocols, maintaining its nuclear work is for civilian purposes.

Ahmadinejad called on Western nations to show an even hand in their nuclear non-proliferation agenda by renouncing Israel's nuclear work.

Unilateral sanctions against Iran in Washington are making their way to the desk of U.S. President Barack Obama.

U.S. representatives to the United Nations said Washington respects the right to civilian nuclear work but warned Tehran that it faced further isolation without more transparency in its nuclear program.