Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says sanctions will not succeed in stopping the country's nuclear progress.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (file photo)

Mr. Ahmadinejad said those who think psychological warfare and sanctions could stop Iran's drive toward progress are mistaken. He also called for a U.S. pullout of Iraq.

The Iranian president spoke Saturday at a parade to mark the anniversary of the start of Iran's 1980 to 1988 war with Iraq. The parade featured a display of troops and military hardware, including a missile that Iran says has a range of about two thousand kilometers.

Some trucks in the parade carried slogans denouncing the U.S.

This comes a day after the United States hosted a high-level diplomatic meeting to discuss the possibility of imposing a third round of U.N. sanctions against Iran in the nuclear dispute.

The State Department said delegates from the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany discussed elements of a U.N. resolution, as well as possibilities of continued dialogue with Iran.

Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner talk with reporters during a joint news conference at State Department, 21 Sept 2007

Also Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said they agree on the need for new sanctions against Iran.

The United States and its allies say Iran's atomic program is aimed at building nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is for civilian purposes only.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.