Khamenei rejects ‘absurd’ claims Iran wants an atomic bomb

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismisses as “absurd” claims his country wants to acquire atomic weapons, in remarks amid signs of a breakthrough in nuclear talks.

The Islamic Republic is locked in negotiations with world powers to revive a 2015 deal that offered it sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

In comments on state television, Khamenei says Iran “has to think about tomorrow” and that “sooner or later we will urgently need peaceful nuclear energy.”

“You can notice how the enemy alliance is pressing cruelly our nuclear issue,” the supreme leader says. “They have imposed sanctions on our nuclear energy, when they know very well that it is peaceful.”

“They claim Iran will produce the bomb in some time, absurd words that make no sense and they know it very well themselves,” says Khamenei.

“They know we are not looking for nuclear weapons, but for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. They are pushing to prevent the Iranian nation from achieving this significant progress.”