Iran's supreme leader says Western sanctions will not impede Tehran's progress, but will instead deepen hatred of the West in the hearts of the Iranian people.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his remarks Sunday at a ceremony to mark the 23rd anniversary of the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The program was held at the mausoleum of the late ayatollah in Tehran.

Khamenei said the U.S. and its allies lie about Iran's nuclear programs to cover up their own problems. He said the political and media talk about the dangers of a nuclear Iran is unfounded.

He said ” what they are and should be afraid of is not a nuclear Iran, but an Islamic Iran.”