TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday denied the West’s charge that Tehran aims to develop nuclear weapons under a covert program, insisting Tehran bans such activity.
“They falsely accuse the Islamic republic of producing nuclear weapons. We fundamentally reject nuclear weapons and prohibit the production and the use of nuclear weapons,” Khamenei said in a speech broadcast by state television.
“They know themselves that it’s not true ... but it is part of Iran-phobia policy that controls the behavior of these arrogant governments today.” The comments came ahead of a meeting in two weeks between Iran and six world powers which have demanded Tehran halt its uranium enrichment program — a process which can be used to make material for an atomic bomb.
Iran has so far defied the demand, insisting its program is for peaceful nuclear energy. It denies accusations by the United States, European powers and Israel that it is covertly seeking to build a nuclear weapon.
The comments by Khamenei, the country’s all-powerful leader, came after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that Iran must answer “head on” concerns about its nuclear program at the meeting with world powers.
The Iranian leader demanded that the West revise its policy. “They must correct this. The Iranian nation is alert. They see and understand animosities and stand against them. The Islamic republic will not retreat.”
Iran’s talks are scheduled for Oct. 1 with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. The European Union expects the meeting to take place in Turkey.
Khamenei who was speaking two days after the annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day, on which Iran held a rally across the country, referred to Israel as a “counterfeit government.” But he denied that Iran — a staunch supporter of the Palestinians — was seeking a military solution to the Middle East conflict.
Khamenei stressed it was a “lie ... claimed by Western media that Iran is attempting to destroy the Zionist regime (Israel) by military equipment.”
“Tehran has proposed a reasonable, logical and humane plan,” Khamenei said, referring to its proposed referendum to decide on the future of Israel, the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
