Iran defiant in face of sanctions

TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The Iranian government and its constituents are able to display a sense of "tranquility" despite growing economic pressure, the country's ruling cleric said.

The European Union announced Monday it had "serious and deepening concerns" over Iran's nuclear program, citing a need for more economic pressure on Tehran.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamanei said such "insidious policies" did nothing to upset political stability in his country.

"The Iranian nation has managed to show its capabilities to the world despite threats, sanctions and the enemies' hostilities relying on this stability and tranquility," he was quoted by the semiofficial Fars News Agency as saying.

Iran's historic Grand Bazaar in Tehran was the scene of October protests over the collapse of the Iranian currency, the rial. At its low point, it took more than 37,000 rials to buy one U.S. dollar.

The EU said Monday it strengthened restrictive measures against the Central Bank of Iran in response to the "flagrant violation" of international measures regarding nuclear transparency.

The International Atomic Energy Agency had said there may be some military aspects to certain parts of Iran's nuclear program. The Iranian government said the program is for peaceful purposes.

"The restrictive measures agreed today are aimed at affecting Iran's nuclear program and revenues of the Iranian regime used to fund the program and are not aimed at the Iranian people," the EU resolution stated.