Sanctions will only fuel hatred, Iran leader warns
Iran's Supreme Leader has said sanctions from Western powers will not stop his country's progress, but will only deepen hatred of the West in the hearts of the Iranian people.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke today at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of his death.
Khamenei rejected as "lies" accusations by the US and its allies that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
He also named Israel as Iran's number one enemy.
Iran is engaged in talks with six world powers over its nuclear programme.
The six have demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium to levels they say could be upgraded to weapons-grade material more quickly.
Tehran says recently toughened Western sanctions must be lifted in exchange.
Khamenei also said any "wrong step" by the Israelis would come back on them like "lightning".
The remarks come as Iran engages in intense talks with the US and five other world powers over its nuclear programme.
Israeli officials have said they leave all options open to try to derail Iran's uranium enrichment.
The West fears Iran could one day produce weapons-grade material. Iran says it only seeks reactors for energy and medical research.
