Iranians Defiant Despite Sanctions, U.S. Criticism

Jan. 6, 2007 — -- It's been two weeks since the United Nations Security Council unanimously imposed sanctions on Iran over its ongoing nuclear program, and in that time the nation has only grown more defiant.

Iranians from all walks of life are expressing pride in their nation's growing power. But while anti-American slogans still adorn billboards in Tehran, Iran's capital city, Iranian attitudes toward the United States, "The Great Satan" in the words of Iran's leaders, are far from uniform.

Students and teachers at an English-language school ABC News visited in Tehran said they admire the United States and like Americans, if not the U.S. government.

"We like them. They'd be amazed to see our culture," one teacher said. "We are no different."

Many Iranians see their nation as on a par with the United States -- a world power, and one day a nuclear power.

In an interview with ABC News, Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki was unequivocal on U.N. sponsored sanctions intended to force Iran to halt its nuclear program. (For the full interview visit http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/International/story?id=2775824&page=1)

"We consider such a resolution illegal, and a wrong step," he said.

On Iraq, Mottaki opposes the likely troop surge, demanding the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

"The United States has a problem in Iraq," he said. "They should accept that their policy has failed."

U.S. officials say Iran is exacerbating the problem, and accuse it of funding and arming Shiite militias, and providing technology to insurgents for more destructive roadside bombs.