RALLY

Iran: Nuclear Announcement Coming

Ahmadinejad says nuclear progress has been made.

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Saturday that Iran had made nuclear progress despite the tough Western sanctions—and an official announcement will come soon. Speaking at celebrations for the 33rd anniversary of the Islamic revolution that toppled the U.S.-backed shah, Ahmadinejad said “in the coming days” Iran would announce a “very major nuclear achievement.” Demonstrators carrying Iranian flags with pictures of the ayatollah chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” during the rally, which was also attended by Hamas leader Ismail Haniya. Iranian officials have brushed off the effects of the tough U.S.-backed sanctions against the country, but industry analysts have said that Iran’s oil sector has been hit and global oil flows are already changing. China and India, in an effort to head off more sanctions, have sent officials to Tehran for nuclear talks.