Iran to continue advancement in nuclear "powerfully"

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Iran will continue the course of advancing its nuclear technology "powerfully." According to the website of Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader said that "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 made the remarks at a meeting with a number of Iranian nuclear scientists in Tehran. His words also came after the latest round of talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrapped up late Tuesday evening in the Iranian capital. This was the second visit by IAEA delegates to the Islamic republic in less than a month aiming to solve the substantive issues over Iran's controversial nuclear program. Iranian officials and the IAEA experts held closed-door meetings on Monday and Tuesday, but failed to reach any agreement. IAEA Director Yukiya Amano confirmed Wednesday that no consensus was reached with Iran during the most recent visit of the agency's team. On Wednesday, Khamenei said that a number of countries which have monopolized science and are dominating the world " unrighteously" are afraid of breaking their monopoly by other nations, according to his website. "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 was quoted as saying. The Iranian leader referred to the threats against the country over its controversial nuclear program and said that "the sanctions, pressures, threats and terror will bear no results (for the enemies)." "Such pressures and sanctions are the signs of weakness of the arrogant powers and will also strengthen Iranian nations," he added.