Iran's top cleric praises Ahmadinejad on atom issue
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah AliKhamenei, said on Tuesday the Islamic Republic won a victory inits nuclear programme and credited the president for thesuccess before a March parliament election.
In his first public comment on the nuclear issue since aU.N. watchdog report last week, Khamenei praised the handlingof the case by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has oftenalarmed the West with speeches vowing no retreat.
The supportive words may be a welcome boost to backers ofAhmadinejad before the March election seen as a test of hispopularity, although Khamenei does not endorse any party.Critics of the president blame him for isolating Iran withuncompromising speeches.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in its reportthat Iran had clarified issues raised as part of a work planagreed in August, but not answered Western allegations ofstudies into the possible weaponisation of nuclear materials.
Western powers are pushing for a third round of sanctionsagainst Iran for not halting work they fear is aimed atbuilding atomic bombs. Tehran denies the charge, saying itwants skills to generate electricity so it can export more oiland gas.
"One example of an advance by the Islamic system has beenthe nuclear issue, in which the Iranian nation has honestly andseriously achieved a great victory," Khamenei was quoted bystate radio as telling Iranian officials.
Analysts had speculated last year that the United Statescould attack Iran's nuclear facilities unless Tehran stoppedits atomic work, an option Washington has still has not ruledout.
But the case for military action was undermined by a U.S.intelligence report in December saying Iran had halted aweapons programme in 2003, analysts said.
Some also said Iran, partly in a bid to avert a militaryconfrontation, had offered a discreet olive branch by using itsinfluence to help calm violence in Iraq.
Khamenei said those opposed to Iran's nuclear programmewere giving ground because of Iran's determination.
"Those people who used to say Iran's nuclear activity mustbe dismantled are now saying we are ready to accept youradvances, on condition that it will not continue indefinitely,"he said, adding that this was achieved through "perseverance".
Khamenei has the final say in all state matters, includingnuclear policy, under Iran's system of clerical rule, whichputs his word above that of the president and other statebodies.
UNEQUIVOCAL STANCE
The supreme leader echoed Ahmadinejad, who said in hisreaction to the IAEA report that experience had shown that whenIran resisted the West's demands, Iran's opponents backed down.
"(Khamenei) regarded the role of the person of thepresident in the advance of the nuclear as outstanding," theradio said.
The U.N. Security Council has demanded Iran halt uraniumenrichment, the part of its nuclear programme that most worriesthe West because the process can be used to make fuel for powerplants or, potentially, material for bombs. Iran has refused.
Khamenei took aim at the last parliament, which wascontrolled by pro-reform politicians. That camp, now out ofpower, has often questioned Ahmadinejad's handling of theatomic case by saying his uncompromising approach has isolatedIran.
"Unlike the efforts of some in the previous term, theseventh majlis (this parliament) acted steadfastly," he said.
Before Ahmadinejad took office in 2005, the previousadministration agreed to suspend enrichment. Since that dealwas scrapped, Khamenei has said Iran would not compromise.
On the election, Khamenei described efforts by the "enemy",usually a reference to Washington and its allies, "to dividepoliticians into extremists and moderates" in a bid toinfluence the March 14 vote but he said such efforts wouldfail.
"The enemy ... has announced clearly one should increasethe pressure on Iran so moderates ... come to power in theelection," he said. "The vast majority of people and officialsbelieve in the principles of the system and revolution."
(Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Samia Nakhoul)