West's Scenarios against Iran Not to Be Limited to Nuclear Case: Leader


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei predicted that the West would think up more excuses, other than the nuclear issue, to put pressure on Iran in the future, including by making allegations of human rights violation.

"Regarding our issues with the US, the West and Zionism, we predict further successive matters other than the nuclear issue, such as human rights, (to be used as excuses to exert pressure on Iran)," the Leader said in a gathering of Iranian lawmakers in Tehran on Wednesday.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated, however, that if Iran relies on its internal capacities and solves its domestic woes, resolving such outside problems would also become easy.

"There are a number of solutions to the nuclear case, all of which pivot on relying on the internal capacities and boosting production," the Leader added.

Ayatollah Khamenei then pointed to "Resistance Economy" as a remedy for the country’s economic woes, adding, "If we strengthen production and tap into the internal capacities, in addition to resolving the internal problems, settlement of outside problems, such as the nuclear issue, will also be facilitated."

The Supreme Leader further called on the Iranian diplomats and negotiators to stick to the Islamic Republic’s declared positions in the nuclear talks with world powers in order to serve the country’s interests.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are in talks to hammer out a lasting accord that would end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

On April 2, the two sides reached a framework nuclear agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both sides committed to push for a final deal until the end of June.