Dr.Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remarked on the effect of sanctions on Iran in an interview with the US magazine " Newsweek " on the fifth day of his travel to New York: "The sanctions of foes could not have affected Iran negatively .The Islamic Republic of Iran achieved numerous progresses in different fields during the past 30 years in spite of the enemies' sanctions.



In response to a question "Do you plan to change the constitution of Iran so as to run for the next presidential term?" the president said: "In Iran nobody changes the constitution because of one person, meanwhile there is no necessity to do so.



Dr.Ahmadinejad pointed out some conditions for the dialog with 5+1: "Iran has always been ready to hold talks but the recent resolution against Iran was issued when Iran was continuing the talks and while the Tehran declaration was one stage of the dialog thus based on this reason Iran postponed the talks for one month.



The president stressed on the necessity the announcement of the negotiators' sides regarding the nuclear subject and said that the type of westerns' replies to these questions are effective to the style and method of negotiation , and reminded: "The negotiators will show if they want to make friend or foe.

Regarding the probability of the Zionistic regime attack on Iran, the president said: "This regime cannot take such a step.



In response to a claim from the Newsweek journalist saying that you are talking about freedom in Iran while the newspapers such as Etemade Melli, Ettemad and karegaran due to criticizing you were shut down, Dr.Ahmadinejad mentioned: "No newspaper has been shut down due to criticizing the government .There are laws in Iran and the judiciary is independent and everyone is equal before laws. Freedom has meaning under the shadow of rule of law, and freedom without laws has no meaning. No one is fined due to criticizing the government.



In response to another question of the Newsweek journalist regarding Mousavi and Karoobi are at large " Is there a possibility that there will be a file formed concerning them? " the president specified; I have no information .A judge should expertise on it, and if there is a file on them, information will be available .All the people are equal before laws .They are the same as the people and it seems that these words are not real but journalistic.



Dr.Ahmadinejad said the news of stoning sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani is a lie and mentioned; judiciary has refuted this news, and her case is being examined in the judicial system of Iran.



In response to this question, is lapidation a kind of punishment in Iran? The president remarked: "At present this penalty is not executed in Iran.