Iran’s Nuclear Power A ‘Myth’ Created By United States: Supreme Leader

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the United States had created a “myth” about Iran having nuclear power. He said that Israel along with the U.S. which posed the real threat to security in the Middle East.

Khamenei said on Sunday that the U.S. authorities had created such a myth so that they could portray Iran as a source of threat. He said that America itself was the threat with its “unrestrained, destabilising interventions.”

“The other side is methodically and shamelessly threatening us militarily even if they did not make these overt threats, we would have to be prepared,” Khamenei said. He was speaking to several hundred military commanders in a televised address on the occasion of Iran’s annual Army Day.

Khamenei also said that the nuclear weapon myth was “fabricated.” He said that “the other side,” referring to the United States, rudely threatened Iran with military action constantly. “And it goes further, saying the Islamic Republic shouldn’t have defensive capability,” he said.

Iran is scheduled to resume talks with six world powers in Vienna this week. While the initial deadline of March 31 was not reached, the national leaders will try to reach a final deal by June. Both sides have disagreements on various issues. One of the major disputes is about sanctions against Iran. While Iran wants the sanctions to be withdrawn all at once, the U.S. authorities indicated that those would be gradually lifted.

Khamenei earlier said that all sanctions against Iran should be lifted as soon as a deal was reached. While he extended his support for Iran’s negotiating team, he expressed doubt about “devilish” intentions of the United States.

Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said on Sunday that Iran would not allow anyone to have inspections of its military sites. “They will not even be permitted to inspect the most normal military site in their dreams,” he said. Visiting a military base by a foreign inspector would mean the occupation of our land because all our defence secrets are there, he added. He said that even to talk about it would be a “national humiliation.”

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au