Former president turned opposition backer Mohammad Khatami called Wednesday for Iranian unity against the UN sanctions, which he said were the latest "hostilities" against the Islamic republic.

"We must be united in the face of the animosity (sanctions) against us, otherwise how are we to stand against this animosity?" Khatami was quoted as saying on the reformist website Parlemannews.ir.

"These hostilities against Iran will only hurt the people and no one can accept these acts against Iran and the revolution."

But the cleric, who was president between 1997 and 2005, criticised government policies, which he said were resulting in "disintegration and empowering of the enemy."

"There is considerable pressure on Iran. The resolution adopted in the (UN) Security Council is targeted at our country at a time when not only no measure is taken against Isareli atrocities, there is also support for them."

He too insisted that Iran wanted a civilian nuclear programme.

A few days before the sanctions were imposed on June 9, opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi also opposed them.

"Although we regard the current situation a result of mismanagement and adventurism in foreign policy, we cannot agree with sanctions which will affect people's lives," he said.

Former two-time president and opposition supporter Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani too called for unity a few days after the sanctions were imposed.