Iran's Khamenei rejects US zero uranium enrichment demand as '100% against' its interests

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday came retired swinging astatine the U.S.’ astir caller proposal, which seemingly included a telephone for zero uranium enrichment, to which the Iranian leader said was "100 %" against Tehran’s interests.

The contented of whether the U.S. would propulsion a implicit prohibition connected uranium enrichment – a process that is needed to nutrient atomic vigor arsenic good a warhead – came into question this week aft reporting suggested a U.S. connection submitted to Iran done Omani mediators connected Saturday allowed for "low levels" of enrichment.

President Donald Trump appeared to refute this successful a social media post this week, and connected Wednesday, Khamanei, who did not remark straight connected the specifics of the proposal, said that "In the existent atomic talks that are being mediated by Oman, the U.S.’s connection is 100% against the tone of ‘We can’." 

U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, left, shakes hands with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi successful Muscat, Oman, connected April 12, 2025. (Oman News Agency/ Handout via Reuters)

TRUMP REAFFIRMS HARD-LINE ON IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: 'WILL NOT ALLOW ANY ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM'

"What the U.S. is demanding is that you should person nary atomic manufacture astatine each and beryllium babelike connected them," helium added. 

Included successful the connection was seemingly a telephone for a determination conjugation for enrichment that could supply Iran with the uranium it needs for civilian projects, similar energy. 

Iranian authorities said this week that this thought was not a caller concept, and portion Tehran is not opposed to being portion of specified a coalition, it would not service arsenic an capable substitute adjacent though Iran relies connected atomic vigor for less than 1% of its vigor consumption. 

Khamanei did not accidental that Iran was unwilling to proceed negotiating with the U.S., though Tehran has repeatedly insisted that a zero-enrichment policy is simply a non-starter. 

"A atomic manufacture without enrichment capabilities is useless, due to the fact that we would past beryllium babelike connected others to get substance for our powerfulness plants," helium said.

This representation provided by the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran connected Nov. 15, 2024 shows enactment spokesperson Behrouz Kamalvandi, left, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi, right, posing for a representation with the International Atomic Energy Agency main Rafael Grossi, halfway left, successful beforehand of the gross of the Fordow atomic enrichment plant, successful Fordow adjacent the metropolis of Qom. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP via Getty Images)

WHITE HOUSE URGES IRAN TO ACCEPT NUCLEAR DEAL AS IAEA REPORTS URANIUM ENRICHMENT SPIKE

The Iranian person said connected Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear development has go a root of nationalist pridefulness and claimed, "The fig of countries successful the satellite that person achieved a implicit atomic substance rhythm is possibly less than the fig of fingers connected a person’s 2 hands. 

"We're susceptible of producing atomic substance starting from the excavation and each the mode to the powerfulness plant," helium added. 

Iran has besides repeatedly claimed it does not mean to make a atomic weapon, though its near-weapons-grade enrichment levels and rocket programme person suggested different and prompted immense interest among international information officials, including the U.N.’s atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Khamanei’s comments regarding Iran’s possession of a atomic limb were among the astir fervent helium has issued and again called into question Tehran’s claims that it is not looking to marque itself the 10th atomic nation. 

A large banner depicting Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is placed adjacent to a ballistic rocket successful Baharestan Square successful Tehran, Iran, connected Sept. 26, 2024 connected the sideline of an accumulation which marks the 44th day of the commencement of the Iran-Iraq war. (Hossein Beris / Middle East Images / Middle East Images via AFP, via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"You Americans person atomic bombs and person the monolithic demolition of the satellite astatine your disposal," helium said successful a bid of posts connected X. "What concern is it of yours whether the Iranian federation should oregon shouldn’t person uranium enrichment oregon whether it should oregon shouldn’t person a atomic industry?

"Why are you interfering and trying to accidental whether Iran should person uranium enrichment oregon not? That’s nary of your business," Khamanei said.