Khamenei favours self reliance to boost Iranian economy

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said relying on domestic potential is the only way to solve the country's economic problems, Xinhua reported.

"Fortunately, the officials of the country have realized that looking out (of the borders) for sanction removal is not the way to tackle the problems," Khamenei said while addressing military commanders at a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution

Iran should not anticipate its enemy to help settle its problems, he said.

"The enemies are making remarks which should be a lesson for our nation," Khamenei said, adding that Iran "should be cognizant about the talks and impolite comments by the Americans."

The comments by the Iranian Supreme Leader followed recent statements made by US Undersecretary of State and nuclear negotiator Wendy Sherman that Iran did not need to have an underground fortified enrichment facility like Fordow or its heavy-water reactor at Arak.

In November, Iran and the P5+1 group, namely the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany, signed an interim nuclear deal which came into effect Jan 20.

Under the agreement, Iran suspended its 20-percent uranium enrichment and started to dilute and oxidise its 196 kg stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium in exchange for a partial relief of sanctions on its energy and financial sectors.