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Khamenei denies US nuclear claims Khamenei denies US nuclear claims
(30 minutes later)
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has denied Western claims that Iran intends to develop nuclear arms.Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has denied Western claims that Iran intends to develop nuclear arms.
His comments come days after the US said it was modifying its plans for defences against Iranian missiles and shelving a long-range missile shield. He said their production and use were prohibited, and that US allegations of a covert programme were false.
Western powers believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian programme. His comments come days after the US said it was modifying plans for defences against Iranian missiles and shelving a long-range missile shield.
Six world powers are to hold talks with Iran on 1 October that are expected to cover global nuclear disarmament.Six world powers are to hold talks with Iran on 1 October that are expected to cover global nuclear disarmament.
Western powers believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian programme.
Ayatollah Khamenei's comments were seen as the first official response to the US decision to scrap a European missile initiative put forward by the former Bush administration to counter any long-range Iranian missile threat.Ayatollah Khamenei's comments were seen as the first official response to the US decision to scrap a European missile initiative put forward by the former Bush administration to counter any long-range Iranian missile threat.
US President Barack Obama said the US would instead develop sea and land-based interceptors against Iran's short and medium-range missile threat.US President Barack Obama said the US would instead develop sea and land-based interceptors against Iran's short and medium-range missile threat.
But Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US knew it was "wrong" when it asserted that Tehran was pursuing a covert nuclear bomb.But Ayatollah Khamenei said that the US knew it was "wrong" when it asserted that Tehran was pursuing a covert nuclear bomb.
"We fundamentally reject nuclear weapons and prohibit the production and the use of nuclear weapons," he said in a speech broadcast on state television."We fundamentally reject nuclear weapons and prohibit the production and the use of nuclear weapons," he said in a speech broadcast on state television.
Israeli assuranceIsraeli assurance
Iran has always denied assertions from the US, Israel and other European powers that it is seeking to build nuclear arms.Iran has always denied assertions from the US, Israel and other European powers that it is seeking to build nuclear arms.
Tehran insists its uranium enrichment initiative is for a purely peaceful civilian nuclear energy programme.Tehran insists its uranium enrichment initiative is for a purely peaceful civilian nuclear energy programme.
Meanwhile Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that Israel had assured him that it had no plans to attack Iran.Meanwhile Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that Israel had assured him that it had no plans to attack Iran.
My Israeli colleagues told me they were not planning to act in this way, and I trust them Dmitry Medvedev on the possibility of an Israeli strike against IranMy Israeli colleagues told me they were not planning to act in this way, and I trust them Dmitry Medvedev on the possibility of an Israeli strike against Iran
Mr Medvedev told US network CNN that Israeli President Shimon Peres gave the assurance during a visit to Moscow at the end of August.Mr Medvedev told US network CNN that Israeli President Shimon Peres gave the assurance during a visit to Moscow at the end of August.
According to a transcript of an interview released by the Kremlin, he said such a strike would cause a "humanitarian disaster" and be "the worst thing that can be imagined".According to a transcript of an interview released by the Kremlin, he said such a strike would cause a "humanitarian disaster" and be "the worst thing that can be imagined".
"My Israeli colleagues told me they were not planning to act in this way, and I trust them," he said."My Israeli colleagues told me they were not planning to act in this way, and I trust them," he said.
The United States, Russia, the UK, France, China and Germany are set to attend international talks with Iran on 1 October.The United States, Russia, the UK, France, China and Germany are set to attend international talks with Iran on 1 October.
The EU says it expects the meeting to take place in Turkey.The EU says it expects the meeting to take place in Turkey.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said Iran must answer concerns about its nuclear programme at the talks "head on".US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said Iran must answer concerns about its nuclear programme at the talks "head on".
But Ayatollah Khamenei said US accusations that Iran was "producing nuclear weapons" were "false". Ayatollah Khamenei said that "despite friendly messages and words", the current US government was anti-Iranian.
"Despite friendly messages and words", the current US government was anti-Iranian, he said.
He also said the West must revise its policy.He also said the West must revise its policy.
"They must correct this," he said. "The Iranian nation is alert"."They must correct this," he said. "The Iranian nation is alert".
"They see and understand animosities and stand against them. The Islamic republic will not retreat.""They see and understand animosities and stand against them. The Islamic republic will not retreat."