The UN Security Council will hold initial consultations Wednesday on a draft resolution to toughen sanctions against Iran for its refusal to end its uranium enrichment activities and adhere to the previous resolution.
"We have acted according to international norms [in the nuclear sphere] until recently, but if they [the West] take illegal measures, we will have a commensurate response," Khamenei said.
In a draft resolution circulated last week, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany said they would impose a ban on Iranian arm exports and arm sales to Iran, and restrict foreign travel for some Iranian officials and leaders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, an elite military unit commanded by Khamenei.
The draft resolution also recommends that countries and international financial organizations not issue loans and grants to Iran, except for humanitarian purposes, and to freeze the accounts of listed individuals and companies involved in the development of the nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
The project's authors believe a vote on the Iran resolution could be taken later this week.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said earlier Wednesday that Iran would not cede its right to develop peaceful nuclear technologies, even under the threat of new sanctions.
"Under no circumstances will Iran give up its right [to access nuclear energy for peaceful purposes], but is committed to continuing talks to find a solution," he said in an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Tuesday.
Mottaki said Tehran is prepared to answer any questions about its nuclear research posed by the international nuclear watchdog.
In response to Iran's unwillingness to give up its nuclear ambitions, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 last December, which provided for sanctions against Iran banning activities involving uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing, heavy water-based projects, and the production of nuclear weapons delivery systems.
