By Edmund Blair
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,Iran's top authority, said on Tuesday the Islamic Republic hadwon 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 powers are pushing for a third round of sanctionsagainst Iran for not halting work they fear is aimed atbuilding atomic bombs, a charge Tehran denies, saying it wantsskills to generate electricity so it can export more of its oiland gas.
"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,"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 which putshis word above that of the president and other state bodies.
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," 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.
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.
Iran had said it considers the nuclear file closed and saidit should no longer be in the hands of the U.N. SecurityCouncil, which has slapped two rounds of sanctions on Iran sofar. But Tehran says it will still work with IAEA.
"Although Iran's (August) work plan ... was completedsuccessfully, Iran is ready to cooperate with the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency in the framework of the (nuclearNon-Proliferation Treaty) regulations," Foreign MinisterManouchehr Mottaki said, the official IRNA news agencyreported.
The IAEA has said Iran should sign up to an AdditionalProtocol to give the agency inspectors more access to makechecks. Iran halted voluntary implementation of that measure in2006 when its case was referred to the Security Council.
(Writing by Edmund Blair; editing by Samia Nakhoul)
