ran’s leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei reiterated on Friday that Iran
has never pursued a nuclear bomb and that the West is trying to deceive
the world by alleging that Iran wanted the bomb.

Addressing a huge congregation at the Friday prayers, the leader said in their smear
campaign, the US and “regrettably some European countries“ claim they are opposed
to “Iran’s access to nuclear weapons“, IRNA reported.“This is sheer deception and
aimed at misleading the public opinion in their own countries,“ he said.

The leader also urged Europe not to fall into the US trap, as “the US has no goodwill
toward you nor toward Iran“.“For us, the nuclear issue is a scientific-economic issue.
If we complete the course we have quite successfully pursued so far, it would be a
scientific achievement for the country ...
We do not want to deplete our non-renewable energy resources and want to keep
them for the next generations. What they (the West) are doing today is sheer bullying
and the US is behind all this.“Referring to the demand of EU3 (Germany, France and UK)
that Iran create confidence, Ayatollah Khamenei said:
“Our policy is one of negotiations, understanding and promotion of confidence. But this confidence must be mutual. I also tell you (EU3) to do something so we could trust
you ... We are not living in the 19th century.“

The leader stressed that Iran relies on its 70-million-strong nation.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei said the US is the prime suspect with
regard to Iraqi insecurity and that terrorists were operating under the US eyes there.

“We are deeply upset by the insecurity prevailing in Iraq and the toll it is
taking on the miserable Iraqi people. Killing innocent people is a big crime
and it does not matter who commits the crime. The US machine guns are
guilty and so are those who plant bombs,“ he said, noting that some believe
the killings are being carried out by the US and Zionist intelligence services.

The leader said the Americans are officially interfering in drawing up the Iraqi constitutional
law and said, “What does it have to do with you?“Described the withdrawal of Zionist troops from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation as “a very important event“, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “It is interesting to know that this withdrawal was not a matter of choice. This is a defeat sustained by the Zionist regime and was done out of desperation.“