Iran's Khamenei says building, using nuclear bomb is forbidden under its religion - TV

FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks live on television after casting his ballot in the Iranian presidential election in Tehran June 12, 2009. REUTERS/Caren Firouz/File Photo

DUBAI (Reuters) - Despite having nuclear technology, Iran has never pursued building or using nuclear weapons, which its religion forbids, the country's highest political authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday.

"Building and stockpiling nuclear bombs is wrong and using it is haram (religiously forbidden) ... Although we have nuclear technology, Iran has firmly avoided it," State TV quoted him as saying.

Iran has repeatedly denied ever having sought to build a nuclear bomb.

(This story was corrected to show Khamenei is highest political authority.)

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; editing by John Stonestreet)