TEHRAN, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran will circumvent sanctions over its nuclear program, local satellite Press TV reported on Wednesday.

Khamenei warned against the sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, saying that Iran will thwart them, the report said.

"The Iranian authorities and nation will undoubtedly circumvent sanctions and render them ineffective just as they did over the past three decades and will move ahead with progress and development," said Khamenei in a meeting with a group of Iranians on Tuesday.

The enemies seek to frustrate the Iranian people by exerting economic pressure on the country, he said.

Since June, the UN Security Council, the United States, European Union and some other western allies have imposed sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear program which they believe are moving to the weapon grade activities.

Tehran has denied the allegations claiming that its nuclear program is aimed at civilian use.