Iran’s supreme leader calls US uranium enrichment demands ‘utter nonsense’

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized U.S. demands for Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, calling them “utter nonsense” and questioning the potential success of future nuclear talks. In a post on X, Khamenei stated, “For the Americans to say, ‘We won’t allow Iran to enrich uranium,’ is utter nonsense. We aren’t waiting for anyone’s permission.” He emphasized that Iran has certain policies that it will pursue without seeking external approval.

The international community has long pressured Iran to cease its nuclear program amid concerns that it could be used for developing nuclear weapons. While Iran denies any intention to build such weapons, it has enriched uranium to near-weapons grade levels and enhanced its missile capabilities, raising suspicions about its true intentions.

Although many countries, including the U.S., rely on nuclear energy for power generation, Iran’s use of nuclear energy remains minimal, accounting for less than 1% of its energy needs in 2022. Despite this, the U.S. has reportedly demanded a complete halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, a demand that Khamenei dismissed as unreasonable.

The White House has not responded to queries regarding the alleged demand, but Khamenei expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of negotiations under the current circumstances. He pointed to previous unsuccessful talks during the Biden administration and cast doubt on the potential outcomes of future discussions.

Reports suggested that the fifth round of nuclear talks could occur soon in Rome, but Khamenei and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated that Iran had not yet agreed to participate due to the U.S.’s latest demands. Araqchi highlighted the need for logical and constructive dialogue to resolve the impasse and expressed hope for a favorable resolution.

The ongoing tensions between Iran and the U.S. underscore the challenges in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. As diplomatic efforts continue, the international community closely watches for developments that could impact regional stability and global security.