In a first reaction to the sanctions to be imposed on Iran in line with United Nations Security Council resolution 1737, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday ordered the government to continue the nuclear programs.

"The Iranian nation definitely insists on its (nuclear) rights and the government has no right to make any concession over this great achievement," said Khamenei, who constitutionally has the final say on all state matters.

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State news agency IRNA quoted the Ayatollah as terming nuclear
technology a local achievement and "source of pride for Iran and the
Islamic world."

"If some Western governments believe that they can form an alliance with the United States and Britain to satisfy the Zionists (Israel) and make this illegitimate regime feel relaxed, then they are making a political mistake," he said.

There had been rumours last week on some websites that Khamenei was dead due to his long absence from the political scene.

The Iranian government has already rejected the main Western demand on uranium enrichment suspension but refused to follow a parliamentary bill to revise cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency as retaliation for the sanction plans.