Powerful cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani called on Iran's political factions to stand together against foreign pressure on Tehran over its nuclear programme, ISNA new agency reported on Thursday.
The two-time former president also warned that an international «consensus» had formed against Iran over its nuclear energy ambitions.
«The most important thing needed inside is unity at a time that our country faces increased cruel resolutions, insults and bullying," Rafsanjani said. „ The enemies will step up their evil-doing if they feel we do not have the same voice.“
«A consensus appears to have formed against us, and the big powers have cooperated to deny our country's natural nuclear rights," he said, referring to a new UN nuclear watchdog resolution condemning Iran over its atomic work.
Rafsanjani, who heads Iran's top arbitration body, the Expediency Council, is close to Iran's opposition.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad proposed shipping low-enriched uranium abroad, where it would be further refined and returned as fuel for a medical research reactor in Tehran.
Subsequent meetings with the International Atomic Energy Agency and key world powers led to a proposed deal under which Russia and France would have done the work.
But opposition quickly emerged among various factions of the governing elite, and Tehran ultimately rejected the deal.
In the end, Ahmadinejad announced on Wednesday that Iran would carry out the further enrichment itself.
Rafsanjani said «the only one who can pave the way to unity is the supreme leader," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A pragmatic conservative, Rafsanjani has always been critical of Ahmadinejad.
Six world powers have warned Iran could face a fourth set of UN sanctions.
«They need us more than we need them. It is psychological warfare and isolating Iran is impossible," Ahmadinejad said in a televised interview on Tuesday.
Iran insists it has the right to develop nuclear technology, which it says is aimed at generating energy for its growing population.
Although Iran has oil, it is still dependent on petrol imports to meet about 40 percent of domestic consumption.
Observers say the US and some European countries have taken a hypocritical stance in relation to nuclear issues in the region.
Tehran had repeatedly protested against any war threats against Iran, warning that it would retaliate in self defence in the event of any strike against its territories.
