NOW IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF SPEED:

Speaking at a meeting with Revolutionary Guards commanders, Khamenei went on to deny that the Islamic Republic strove to acquire nuclear weapons, calling the possession of such weapons contrary to Islamic ideals.

"We do not believe in nuclear weapons because of our beliefs, not for the sake of the US or other countries, and when we say that no country should possess nuclear weapons, we ourselves are definitely not trying to possess them," he said.

Khamenei is ready to allow real-time oversight of Iran's nuclear facilities via camera, and surprise visits by UN inspectors, Israel's Channel 2 news further reported Tuesday night. Assuming Iran did not have secret facilities elsewhere, such oversight, the report said, would preclude a "break out' by Iran to the bomb, as might be possible in the current situation during periods between scheduled visits by inspectors.

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