Iran`s nuclear issue has become a national matter now and using sanctions as a political tool would not influence the country`s decision-making, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday.

Mottaki who is currently in New York to attend the 62nd UN General Assembly, made the remarks in a meeting with US media and academics at the end of which he answered their questions.

In a politically motivated move, Iran`s peaceful nuclear issue was sent to the UN Security Council by the IAEA Board of Governors and was followed by two anti-Iran resolutions,` Mottaki said.

Referring to the fact that Iran was under different sanctions during the past 28 years, the minister said that all the progress and scientific achievements and inventions of Iranians were made through their efforts to confront those sanctions.

He supported his claim by saying that the country has made remarkable progress in all its economic parameters last year including foreign economy.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki elaborated Monday on what President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meant by saying in New York last week that Iran`s nuclear case has been `closed` now.

Mottaki said, `The president meant that the political atmosphere over Iran`s nuclear case has ended now due to Tehran`s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

President Ahmadinejad meant that Iran`s nuclear case has currently entered a technical and expertise phase,` Mottaki added.

He stressed that the case of all IAEA member states is `open` in the agency while they continue their cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is part of Iran`s Armed Forces and was established after the victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday.

The IRGC is a constitutional body in charge of protecting the country against possible aggression,` Mottaki said at a meeting with US media and academics here.

The Iranian minister is currently in New York to attend the 62nd UN General Assembly.

Stressing that the IRGC is an official body, Mottaki said, `Their assignment is domestic, however, they attend some missions abroad as military attache along with the country`s Army and military sections.

Mottaki`s remarks came in response to a question on the IRGC status.