Former Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki underlined the civilian nature of Iran's nuclear program, and expressed hope that Tehran and the six major world powers would pave the ground for cutting a final deal in the near future. “Iran is not after acquiring nuclear weapons, and even the Americans know this well,” the former Iranian foreign minister underscored on Saturday. On February 22, 2012, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons "a grave sin" from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint.