Iran's Ahmadinejad calls sanctions 'ridiculous'

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TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the West's sanctions on Iran's oil sector are "ridiculous."

Ahmadinejad told a group of oil officials that only "politically retarded" governments would use badly needed oil as a tool of "political warfare" in opposition to Iran's nuclear program. His speech was broadcast on state TV on Tuesday.

Ahmadinejad's remarks came after Congress pressed ahead late Monday with a new package of sanctions on Iran, expanding financial penalties and targeting Tehran's energy and shipping sectors in the hope that economic pressure will undercut the country's suspected nuclear weapons program. Iran denies it seeks atomic weapons

Iran relies on oil for some 80 percent of its foreign revenue.