The West has declared 'all-out war' on Iran with oil and banking sanctions, claims Ahmadinejad

• Measures aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program  have severely harmed its economy
• President Ahmadinejad due to attend the U.N. General Assembly in New York later this month
• Ahmadinejad said the banking embargo has affected Iran's ability to supply basic needs such as meat

The West's oil and banking sanctions imposed against Iran are a declaration of 'all-out-war', President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
In July, the EU banned oil imports from Iran, just after the US enacted tough measures against Iran's central bank.
The sanctions, aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear development program, have severely harmed Iran's economy.
Ahmadinejad said the banking embargo has affected Iran's ability to supply basic needs such as meat.

Outburst: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has accused The West of launching 'all-out ... war' on his country

Appearing on a live TV talk show, Ahmadinejad said: 'It is an all-out, hidden, heavy war.'

Ahmadinejad admitted that the West's sanctions have created problems in oil exports and banking.
'There are barriers in transferring money, there are barriers in selling oil,' said Ahmadinejad.
'We are going ahead, and God willing we will succeed.' 
'We are removing the barriers', he added - but without saying how.
The West's sanctions are supposed to press Iran to stop enriching uranium.
The West suspects Iran is aiming for nuclear weapons production.
Iran denies the charge, insisting its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes like power generation and cancer treatment.
Iran relies on crude oil exports for some 80 percent of its foreign revenue.

Issue: Ahmadinejad watches as nuclear fuel rods are loaded into the Tehran Research Reactor. The West suspects Iran is developing nuclear weapons

Oil workers at Tehran's oil refinery. Ahmadinejad admitted that the West's sanctions have created problems in oil exports

According to the International Energy Agency, Iran's crude oil production has fallen steadily from nearly 4 million barrels a day in May to 2.9 million barrels a day in July.
Imports of Iranian oil by major consumers plunged to 1 million barrels a day in July from 1.74 million barrels a day in June.
Ahmadinejad also repeated his previous statements that Iran is a friend to the American people and other nations - except Israel.
'We have no argument with Americans. We like them like other nations,' said Ahmadinejad.
He said 'ruling groups' in the U.S. have worked against relations with Iran, an apparent reference to the pro-Israel lobby.
The remarks preceded Ahmadinejad's trip to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly later this month.
The U.S. and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since hardliners stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and held hostages there for more than a year, after Iran's Islamic Revolution that ousted a pro-Western monarchy.