Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday that it was essential for the Islamic republic to master the nuclear fuel cycle, but again denied the country was seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
"It is essential because if the Iranian people cannot" produce their own nuclear fuel, "they will be dependent on outside sources and if these countries decide not to supply us, our stations will be useless," Khamenei said in a speech carried on state television.
The all-powerful leader, however, did not say when Iran would resume enriching uranium, an activity that is currently suspended in line with demands from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The IAEA is investigating Iran's bid to generate atomic energy, which the United States says is merely a cover for a weapons programme. Iran denies the charge.
The question of the nuclear fuel cycle is a serious concern at the IAEA, which fears it could eventually be used for military purposes.
Khamenei repeated the regime's assertions that this was not a risk.
"Iran is not trying to make an atomic bomb, because it does not need this to unravel its enemies," he said, employing a term commonly used to refer to the United States and Israel. "It is by relying on faith, determination and unity that the people can defeat their enemies," said Khamenei, who has the final word on all matters of state.
On Friday, the IAEA passed a British-French-German sponsored resolution that strongly criticised Iran for failing to co-operate enough with UN inspectors and calling for the probe to be stepped up and concluded within a few months.
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