Eurasia Press & News
Iran rejected a US demand to end uranium enrichment as nuclear talks hit a wall and military action could come next
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has rejected a US call to end uranium enrichment as nuclear talks reach an impasse, raising the risk of military confrontation.
“If we had 100 nuclear power plants while not having enrichment, they are not usable for us,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “If we do not have enrichment, then we should extend our hand (begging) to the US. The impolite and insolent American leaders keep repeating this demand.”
Ayatollah Khamenei’s comments came in response to a proposal by the American envoy, Steve Witkoff, after five rounds of talks and a statement from Donald Trump that no enrichment would be permitted.
“Under our potential Agreement — WE WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM!,” the US President posted on social media on Monday.
Iran insists on its right to enrich nuclear fuel for civilian purposes and denies that it intends to produce nuclear weapons. The US does not believe that the regime has moved to weaponise the programme.
However, a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found that Tehran possesses a stockpile of 400kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, far beyond the level required for civilian purposes, sufficient for 10 nuclear bombs if further refined.
Both the US and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power. Trump has threatened military action if diplomacy fails.
Saeed Azimi, a journalist and political analyst based in Tehran, said talks are deadlocked. The breakdown in diplomacy is “incredibly dangerous” in light of Trump’s threats, he added.
“It appears we have reached an impasse,” he told The i Paper. “The public outburst of Iran’s supreme leader shows his outrage at the radical and maximalist demands of the US. Iran will in no way accept zero enrichment, for it has long fought over its right to enrich uranium.”
“It also appears that the proposal put forward by Steve Witkoff, which contained the formation of a regional consortium, will soon be rejected by Iran, after an implicit denial from the supreme leader.”
The US Government has not revealed details of the proposal to Iran. But Iranian and European officials told the New York Times it included a transitional agreement that temporarily allowed Tehran low levels of enrichment as part of a shift towards a regional consortium to produce nuclear fuel along with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the US.
The location of facilities under such an agreement was said to be a sticking point, with Iran insisting this takes place on their own territory, and concerned that a consortium with the US could allow Washington to veto supplies.
But regime officials suggested a compromise using one of Iran’s islands on the Persian Gulf that would grant greater visibility than mainland facilities buried deep underground.
