Supreme leader Khamenei (file photo)
19 August 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today during his Friday sermon that Iran would not suspend its nuclear activities but he said the Islamic state had no interest in developing nuclear weapons.
Khamenei said no country had the right to tell Iran what to do adding that there was no talk about nuclear weapons in Iran.
Khamenei said accusations Iran was developing a civilian nuclear program with the aim of producing nuclear weapons was quote "a propaganda lie" to achieve a global consensus against Iran.
Khamenei said Iran needed nuclear power for electricity. He was quoted as saying "we need alternatives as well as our oil and gas reserves will one day be finished and then the country would have to refer to the United States for purchasing the same oil and gas."
(Reuters/dpa)
For RFE/RL's complete coverage of the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program, see "Iran's Nuclear Program."
Khamenei said accusations Iran was developing a civilian nuclear program with the aim of producing nuclear weapons was quote "a propaganda lie" to achieve a global consensus against Iran.
Khamenei said Iran needed nuclear power for electricity. He was quoted as saying "we need alternatives as well as our oil and gas reserves will one day be finished and then the country would have to refer to the United States for purchasing the same oil and gas."
(Reuters/dpa)
For RFE/RL's complete coverage of the controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program, see "Iran's Nuclear Program."