FEELING THE PINCH

Iran Wants Sanctions Lifted

Before nuclear program talks.

As diplomats prepare for talks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions next week in Baghdad, the Islamic Republic said Saturday that sanctions against the country would have to be lifted for discussions to go smoothly. A spokesman for the country’s foreign ministry said that the sanctions imposed by the West are without legal justification and that “no one in Iran is happy about the sanctions.” Iran, which denies the effectiveness of sanctions, has recently grown more aggressive with its demands that punitive measures against its trade and banking entities be lifted. “If the West thinks we will give up our rights due to sanctions, they are definitely mistaken,” the spokesman said.