Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei asserted that “peaceful nuclear energy is needed by nations, but Western monopolists are seeking to keep this energy to themselves. Then, they wish to give it drop by drop to other nations, at the price of their dignity and independence”. “The West knows we don’t seek nuclear weapons because of our principles and religious beliefs”, he added. “Therefore, they oppose the Islamic Republic’s nuclear advancement in order to hinder Iran from gaining science, industry and nuclear capability”.