Khamenei rejects US demands on nuclear deal and pledges continued uranium enrichment
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has firmly rejected a core condition in the latest US proposal aimed at resolving the protracted nuclear standoff. In a recent speech, he vowed that Tehran would not give up its uranium enrichment activities, a move seen as a clear dismissal of American expectations tied to the revival of a nuclear agreement.
His remarks were made during a ceremony honoring the death anniversary of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s founder. As negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue, uranium enrichment remains a key obstacle. According to Khamenei, the US proposal undermines Iran’s commitment to self-reliance and contradicts the values of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Khamenei emphasized that nuclear independence is crucial for Iran’s sovereignty. “Independence means not waiting for permission from America or its allies,” he said. He criticized those who associate rational policymaking with submission to US demands, insisting that Iran does not need foreign approval to determine its nuclear policy.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed this position, declaring that the country would defend its nuclear and scientific rights while distancing itself from the pursuit of nuclear weapons. He accused Western nations of hypocrisy, pointing out their own development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction in the region.
Earlier reports suggested that Tehran was preparing to dismiss the US proposal as unviable. A diplomat told Reuters that the offer failed to address Iranian interests or offer meaningful concessions regarding enrichment limits.
The US remains firm in its stance. Special envoy Steve Witkoff, representing President Donald Trump’s administration, reaffirmed that any continued enrichment by Iran remains a “red line.”
A recent UN report revealed that Iran has increased its uranium enrichment levels to near weapons-grade capacity by 50 percent over the last three months. Though still below the 90 percent threshold required for nuclear weapons, this enrichment level far exceeds the 4 percent needed for energy production. Iran has criticized the report, labeling it politically motivated and inaccurate.
The nuclear issue resurfaces at a time when Iran faces multiple internal and regional challenges—from a weakened economy and regional proxy losses to growing fears of a potential Israeli military strike on its nuclear facilities. Without progress on a new deal, tensions in an already volatile Middle East could escalate further, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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