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Supreme Leader: Nuclear arms never guarantee a country`s strength

IRNA

Tehran, Oct 22, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution 
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Wednesday that nuclear 
weapons never guarantee the strength of any country, stressing that 
Iran`s strength relies on people`s "knowledge, perseverance and 
faith". 
Ayatollah Khamenei, speaking at a meeting with the elite 
university students, said Iran has never been pursuing nuclear 
weapons, stressing that allegations of certain Western states to that 
effect are merely meant to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear 
technology. 
"We have repeatedly declared that we do not need nuclear weapons 
because we never believe that the possession of such weapons would 
provide the ground for the country`s strength and authority," he said.
"We believe that the strength of every country depends on its 
capable human sources who are armed with knowledge, faith and 
perseverance." 
Ayatollah Khamenei said certain developed countries are trying to 
undermine the efforts by others to make scientific breakthrough in 
various areas in order to make them remain consumers of their own 
products. 
This, the Supreme Leader said, is the reason why they are angry 
with Iran`s scientific advancement, particularly in the area of 
nuclear technology. 
"They apparently say that Iran must not pursue nuclear weapons. 
Yet, what they really want to say is that Iran must not have nuclear 
technology so that it would always have to rely on the technological 
advancement of the West," Ayatollah Khamenei said. 
The Supreme Leader said the countries that claim to be 
spearheading an international struggle to safeguard world peace and 
security are themselves using atomic bombs as well as other types of 
weapons of mass destruction. 
"The claim of these countries that they are struggling to prevent 
the proliferation of nuclear weapons is like that of a major smuggling
kingpin who considers himself as the authority responsible for 
fighting smuggling," he said. 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei called Iran`s elite 
youth as the source of hope and dynamism for the country, stressing 
that the officials must try to satisfy the demands of the youth. 
"I would like to advise the youth to promote their determination 
and earnestly struggle to overcome the problems. They should also 
struggle for the prosperity of the country," he said. 
Ayatollah Khamenei also said that the Iranian youth have already 
proved their capability in different fields of science by winning 
several international academic awards. 
"There is no doubt that if all the people, particularly the youth,
put forth the best of their struggles, and the officials carry out an 
efficient planning for using the resources of the country, Iran 
will stand in the frontline of the world`s scientific arena in next 
few decades," he said. 
AA/212 
End