'We will choose war' Iranians defiant as they face sanctions or a second conflict

As the worshippers streamed into the vast Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran to hear a call to prayer, the mood was one of determination and some trepidation as they faced the prospect of UN-wide sanctions in 30 days and even a rerun of the 12-day war with Israel.

- Patrick Wintour

With guards watching, a worshipper giving his name as Mousavi said: "The reality is that many countries have nuclear power and are not subject to these rules but Iran is singled out for controls because we oppose Israel. We are dealt with in a different way because of our foreign policy. But an economic avalanche is looming with these UN sanctions - they are very different from what has happened before - and that means even more economic adversity will only impoverish us more.

"So I think we have to relent a little. We have to let the UN inspectors in. There is probably not much nuclear material for them to see," said Mousavi.

That is far from the universal view, reflecting the politics of a mosque associated with hardliners and closely involved in the burial ceremonies of the previous president, Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash that some Iranians insist was not caused by bad weather but by sabotage by the Mossad.

Rajabi Seddequi, also fatalistic as he headed towards the mosque, said: "For 40 years we have become familiar with sanctions. They did not break us. They made us more resilient. Life has gone on. It does not bother us whether they are UN or US sanctions. If we have to choose between war and the entry of the UN inspectors, we will choose war. We will protect Iran and Islam."