TEHRAN (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's top authority, said on Tuesday the Islamic Republic had won a victory in its nuclear programme.
In his first public comment on the nuclear issue since aU.N. watchdog report last week, Khamenei also praised thehandling of the case by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who hasoften alarmed the West with speeches vowing no compromise.
The International Atomic Energy Agency said in the reportthat Iran had clarified issues raised as part of a work planagreed in August, but not claims of alleged studies into thepossible weaponisation of nuclear materials.
Western capitals fear Iran is seeking to master technologyto build atomic bombs. Tehran denies the charge, saying itwants the skills needed to generate electricity so it canpreserve more of its huge oil and gas reserves for export.
"One example of an advance by the Islamic system has beenthe nuclear issue, in which the Iranian nation has honestly andseriously realised a great victory ... ," Khamenei was quotedby state radio as telling Iranian officials.
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."
"This is a great advance that would not have been realisedexcept with perseverance," he said.
Khamenei has the final say in all matters of state,including nuclear policy, under Iran's system of clerical rulewhich puts his word above that of the president and other statebodies.
The supreme leader's remarks echoed those of Ahmadinejadwho said in his reaction to the IAEA report that experience hadshown that when Iran resisted the West's demands, Iran'sopponents backed down.
"(Khamenei) regarded the role of the person of thepresident in the advance of the nuclear as outstanding," radioquoted Khamenei as saying.
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 and now faces a possible third round ofU.N. sanctions.
(Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Keith Weir)
