Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Friday that Tehran does not intend to develop nuclear weapons, repeating a position Iranian officials have voiced for years. His remarks come as scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear activities remains high and Western governments continue to press for limits and transparency.

The statement was reported by Reuters and framed as a restatement of Iran’s longstanding claim that its atomic program is meant for peaceful purposes. Khamenei did not announce any policy change, and the comments were made amid ongoing international concern over the direction of Iran’s nuclear work.

Iran has long denied seeking a bomb, while critics point to the country’s uranium enrichment and strained relations with nuclear watchdogs and foreign governments. The issue remains central to diplomacy, sanctions policy, and regional security, with civilians in Iran continuing to bear the burden of isolation and economic pressure tied to the standoff.

Friday’s remarks are likely to keep the nuclear file at the center of Iran’s confrontation with the West. For now, the message from Tehran is unchanged: the leadership says it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, even as skepticism abroad remains deep.