Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday the country's next president should focus on the Iranian economy which is targeted by the West.
Khamenei's remarks came as some presidential candidates in their campaigns put "improving of the relations" with the world, including Western countries, as a pre-requisite to solve Iran's nuclear issue and economic problems, Xinhua reported.
The candidates "should pledge to deal with the subject of economy which is at the top of Western hostility with Iran," said Khamenei addressing the public on the death anniversary of founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
On Monday, the US administration expanded sanctions against Iran to target the Islamic republic's currency for the first time as well as its auto industry.
"Some (of the candidates) said ... that we (should) make concessions to the enemies to appease them; but we should know that they are worried about... a powerful and resistant Islamic republic," Khamenei said.
He also said that Iran's "dignity and power" was attainable through resistance to mounting Western pressure over the country's nuclear programme.
