Iran’s Ahmadinejad Rejects Obama’s Overtures

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves as he waits for the arrival of his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon in Tehran on March 26. Ahmadinejad on Saturday rejected U.S. offer diplomacy and said that an increase in sanctions on oil import to his country would only serve to increase Iranians resolve and strength. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP/Getty Images)

Two weeks after President Obama renewed diplomatic overtures toward Iran to mark the country’s new year, Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responded rejecting the offer.

On Saturday, Ahmadinejad said, “What hand did you [Americans] extend toward us? What changed? Your sanctions were lifted? The adverse propaganda was stopped? The pressure was alleviated? Did you change your attitude in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine?”

As Obama made his offer to renew ties on March 20, he also noted that “Iran’s leaders have shown only a clenched fist” in the face of international efforts to resolve nuclear power issues in the country. Ahmadinejad also said, according to Reuters, that an increase in sanctions on oil import to the country would only serve to increase Iranians resolve.

“You should know that the more hostile you are, the stronger an incentive our people will have, it will double.”