Khamenei defends Iran’s right to n-power

Tehran – Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran will not retreat “an iota” from its nuclear rights, while stressing that West’s pressure will not be able to affect the country’s stance.

Addressing a large crowd of commanders within the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp’s Basij force in Tehran, Khamenei said Wednesday that he supported Iran’s nuclear negotiating team and emphasised to the team that the Iranian leaders “insist on preserving the rights of the nation, including its nuclear rights”, Xinhua reported.

“We insist that no retreat should be made, even an iota, from the (nuclear) rights of the Iranian nation.”

“The red lines (in the nuclear negotiations) should be observed, and we have told this to the (negotiating) officials and have told them that they should not be intimidated by the enemy’s gestures,” the Iranian leader said, referring to warnings by the West of more sanctions ! on the country that is already burdened by international embargos.
Khamenei said the sanctions by the US are “spiteful” and “intend to make us surrender”.

The country’s supreme leader predicted that attempts to squeeze compliance out of Iran will “backfire”.