Khamenei Pledges to Continue Uranium Enrichment in Iran

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, stated on Tuesday that Iran has no intention of building nuclear weapons but will continue uranium enrichment, rejecting U.S. demands to halt the program.

In a televised address, Khamenei said Iran has enriched uranium to 60 per cent purity for peaceful domestic purposes, including electricity generation, medicine, agriculture, and industry, The Caspian Post reports citing Iranian media.

The level remains below the 90 per cent required for weapons but far exceeds the 3.67 per cent cap set under the 2015 nuclear deal.

"We did not and will not surrender on uranium enrichment," Khamenei said. "We went up to 60 per cent, which is a very high, a very good figure and a necessary figure for some of our domestic needs."

“Countries seeking to build nuclear weapons increase enrichment to 90 per cent. Since we have no need for such weapons and have decided not to pursue them, we have limited our enrichment to 60 per cent.

“We have neither succumbed to pressure regarding enrichment nor will we ever do so. Similarly, in other matters, we have stood firm against pressure and will continue to do so.”

Khamenei added that Washington has taken a harder stance than previous administrations. “The U.S. side has dug in its heels, insisting that Iran mustn’t have enrichment.

"Earlier, they objected only to high-level enrichment. But the current administration says, ‘Don’t have enrichment at all; absolutely none.’”

He said Iran now ranks among the 10 countries with uranium enrichment technology.

Khamenei also dismissed negotiations with Washington as “harmful” to Iran. "Negotiating with America has no benefit and is harmful," he said. "These negotiations are pure loss and deadlock and only benefit America."

He said U.S. demands go beyond nuclear issues and include restrictions on Iran’s missile program. "America's demands will have no end," Khamenei said.

Addressing the recent war with Israel, Khamenei said the Islamic Republic was its primary target. He claimed Israel’s killing of Iranian commanders was intended to provoke domestic unrest rather than achieve military objectives.