Iran's Supreme leader says country will continue advancing nuke technology 'powerfully'

Tehran, Feb 23 (ANI): Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran will continue the course of advancing its nuclear technology "powerfully."

"With the help of God almighty and heedless of the (Western) hype, the paths to diverse scientific advancements, especially in nuclear technology, must be continued powerfully and earnestly (by the Islamic republic)," Khamenei said according to his website.

Khamenei said that a number of countries, which dominate the world "unrighteously", fear that their hegemony may be overthrown by other nations, according to his website.

Khamenei also rejected charges that Iran's nuclear program aims at weaponry grades, Xinhua reports.

"Iran is not after nuclear weapons, since the Islamic republic, from the theoretical and religious point of view, considers possessing nuclear weapons as a great sin and believes that keeping such weapons is futile, harmful and dangerous," he added.

According to the report, Khamenei further said that the Western sanctions against the Islamic republic "will bear no results," calling such measures "signs of weakness" on the part of the Western powers. (ANI)