Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, met Wednesday morning with the director, managers and experts of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The meeting was held on the occasion of the National Day of Nuclear Technology. Speaking at the meeting, His Eminence described the most important achievement ofnuclear technology in the country as raising national self-confidence and preparing the ground for other scientific achievements. Referring to the negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and P5+1, he said: "The purpose of agreeing with these negotiations was to change the atmosphere of hostility that the camp of arrogance has created against Iran. These negotiations should continue, but everyone should know that despite this, the activities of the Islamic Republic in the area of nuclear research and development will not stop in any way. None of the nuclear achievements of the country can be given up. Besides, the relations of the International Atomic Energy Agency with Iran should be normal and ordinary relations."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the most important methods used by arrogance - including old and modern arrogance - for promoting the idea that being trampled upon and humiliated is an unchangeable fate for colonized peoples, further adding: "Any element that can foil this plot of the enemy will be the main element for the national growth and great movements of a people."
Ayatollah Khamenei mentioned that since the early years of the Islamic Revolution, the camp of arrogance has made many efforts to prevent the progress of the Islamic Republic and to introduce Iran as a backward and weak country. He stressed: "Another plot that global arrogance has tried very hard to implement against the Islamic Revolution is to influence the major policies of Iran and to shatter the willpower of the political management of the country. But the camp of arrogance has failed to do this until today and by Allah's favor, it will continue to fail in the future."
His Eminence said that another plot the camp of arrogance has used against the Islamic Republic is to create an international environment against the Islamic Republic by presenting reasons that have a crass appeal, further stating: "The nuclear issue is an example of this, through which they tried to create an environment against the Islamic Republic and to spread lies."
He reiterated: "Even now that reason - including religious and political reason - has made it clear that the Islamic Republic is not after nuclear weapons, American officials bring up the issue of nuclear weapons whenever they address the nuclear issue. This is while they themselves know that not having nuclear weapons is the definite policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution added: "Their goal is to preserve the international environment against Iran with this excuse. This was why there was an agreement with the new plan of the administration for the nuclear issue. The purpose of this agreement was to remove the international environment against Iran, to seize the initiative from the other side and to reveal the truth for public opinion in the world. Of course, these negotiations do not mean that the Islamic Republic will compromise its scientific-nuclear movement."
Ayatollah Khamenei stated: "The nuclear achievements that have been made so far are, in fact, a message to the people of Iran that they can take the paths which lead to the lofty peaks of science and technology. Therefore, this scientific-nuclear movement should not be stopped in any way or slowed down."
His Eminence stressed that the Iranian negotiators should persist in asserting the right of the people of Iran to continue their nuclear research and development, saying: "None of the nuclear achievements of the country can be given up. No one has the right to trade these achievements and no one will do this."
He highlighted the possibility of making progress in different technologies by referring to the young talents of the country, adding: "The young scientists of the country can accomplish amazing and astonishing feats in any area if there are the necessary infrastructures."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the negotiations that were conducted a few years ago between Iran and two other countries with the purpose of providing the fuel for the Tehran research reactor, reiterating: "At that time, a formula was devised for producing fuel. But the Americans created obstacles in the way of this process. This was contrary to what they had said to their friends in the regions and to a South American country - and these people believed what the Americans said. The Americans foolishly thought that they had put Iran in dire straits."
His Eminence added: "At that time, I said that America does not want to solve this issue. Later on, everyone saw that when a nuclear agreement was in its final stages, the Americans did not allow it to be finalized."
He referred to the determination and high morale of the young nuclear scientists of the country, stating: "At that time, westerners began to ridicule our experts who had announced that they have the capability to produce fuel plates for the Tehran research reactor. But our youth accomplished this feat in less than the arranged time and as a result, the enemies were astonished."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated that some people inside the country think that the nuclear achievements have resulted in sanctions and pressures, saying: "Such an outlook towards the nuclear issue is a simple-minded and naïve outlook. If some people think that the price of nuclear achievements has been sanctions and pressures, we should remind them that even before the nuclear excuse, sanctions and pressures existed against Iran."
Ayatollah Khamenei added: "During the time when there was no nuclear excuse, a western court put Iran on a trial in absentia. Of course, in the present time, they do not have the courage to do this because of the national power of the country. Sanctions and pressures do not exist because of the nuclear issue. Rather, they are opposed to the independent identity - which originates from Islamic faith and belief - and the future prospects of the people of Iran and the Islamic Republic and to their refusal to be bullied by anyone."
His Eminence stressed: "Therefore, if it is said that sanctions and pressures are the price that we have paid for our nuclear achievements, this is not true because even if sanctions did not exist, they would make another excuse, as the Americans bring up the issue of human rights in today's negotiations."
He said: "Even if the issue of human rights is resolved, they will find another excuse. Therefore, the only way is to continue our path of progress with complete power and to stand up against their bullying."
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted the necessity of continuing the negotiations within the framework of the nuclear issue, adding: "The negotiators of the country should not give in to any bullying of the other side. Besides, the relations of the International Atomic Energy Agency with Iran should be normal and ordinary relations."
Ayatollah Khamenei described the achievements of nuclear scientists and experts as the result of observing religious obligations and having faith in God and the righteousness of the path, stressing: "The result of this faith is divine assistance and guidance and the leaps that we have witnessed in these years."