Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran is not concerned about sanctions on its oil sales by the West.

Iran has ample reserves of foreign currencies and even if it could not sell its oil for several years it would be able to withstand the sanctions, Ahmadinejad made the remarks in the Iranian southern port city of Bandar Abbas broadcast live on state- run IRINN TV.

The president's words came just a few days ahead of the nuclear talks between Iran and the UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany (P5+1) slated for April 14 in Turkey's Istanbul.