Ahmadinejad: Protests against Iran's regime 'going nowhere'

Islamic Republic's president acknowledges that "there is a lot of hostility against the government," but says demonstrations' organizers "just wanted to tarnish the Iranian nation's brilliance."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ahmadinejad 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Ahmadinejad 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday dismissed the seriousness of protests against his regime, saying that the demonstrations are "going nowhere," in an interview on Iranian state television.
"It is clear the Iranian nation has enemies because it is a nation that wants to shine, conquer peaks and change relations," Ahmadinejad stated.
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He acknowledged that "there is a lot of hostility against the government," but said the protests' organizers "just wanted to tarnish the Iranian nation's brilliance."
"It is a shining sun. They threw some dust towards the sun... but the dust will return to their eyes," the Iranian president said.
Clashes between protesters and Iranian security forces in Tehran left two people dead and several wounded on Monday.
US President Barack Obama blasted the Iranian regime on Tuesday for suppressing protesters and called on those taking to the streets to show courage in their pursuit for greater freedom.
“My hope and expectation is that we’re going to continue to see the people of Iran have the courage to be able to express their yearning for greater freedoms and a more representative government,” Obama said at a press conference, comparing the demonstrations in Iran with those that ousted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak from office on Friday.