TEHRAN, Iran â€"  Iran's Supreme Leader says Western sanctions will not stop Tehran's progress but will only deepen hatred of the West in the hearts of the Iranian people.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered his remarks Sunday at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, at a ceremony marking the 23rd anniversary of his death.

Khamenei rejected as "lies" accusations by the U.S. and its allies that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. He also called Israel Iran's number one enemy.

Iran is currently engaged in talks with six world powers over its nuclear program. The six have demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium to levels they say could be upgraded to weapons-grade material more quickly. Tehran says recently toughened Western sanctions must be lifted in exchange.