Iran's supreme leader has claimed that America cannot prevent it developing nuclear arms.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran does not intend to create a nuclear arsenal, but warned the US could "in no way prevent it" from making an atomic bomb.

The West and Israel suspect the Islamic republic is masking the development of atomic weapons under the guise of a nuclear power programme.

This week President Barack Obama urged Iran to agree a diplomatic solution to the nuclear stand-off.