‘They Cannot Do Anything About This’: Khamenei Belittles U.S. Nuclear Proposal

Latest Developments

Khamenei Calls U.S. Plan ‘Nonsense’: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called a U.S.-proposed outline for a nuclear deal “nonsense,” again rejecting the key U.S. demand that Iran must dismantle its nuclear enrichment capabilities. “The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program,” he said on June 4. “They cannot do anything about this.” He added that it would be “useless” for Iran to build nuclear power plants without having the ability to enrich uranium.
Impasse in Negotiations: After five rounds of negotiations, the United States and Iran find themselves at an impasse due to Iran’s insistence on maintaining its enrichment program and its refusal to export current stocks of near-weapons-grade uranium. A recent Trump administration-proposed bridge plan reportedly offered Iran U.S. assistance to build nuclear power reactors while permitting it to continue enriching uranium at lower levels necessary for civilian nuclear power. Iran would later on cease enrichment on its territory once a regional consortium-run enrichment facility begins operations.
Iran Accelerates Enrichment: Despite ongoing negotiations, recent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, expressed “serious concern” that Iran has increased its production of highly enriched uranium. The IAEA stated that Iran has nearly doubled its stocks of near-weapons-grade 60 percent enriched uranium in the past three months, now possessing enough to assemble 10 nuclear weapons if further refined. It also reported that Iran’s rate of enrichment equated to refining enough material to build one new nuclear weapon each month.

FDD Expert Response

“President Donald Trump gave Khamenei an off-ramp to abandon uranium enrichment, the regime’s pathway to making fuel for nuclear weapons. The president must make clear that major penalties are on the way for the regime’s failure to choose wisely — further enforcement of U.S. oil sanctions, snapback of UN Iran sanctions, an increased U.S. and Israeli military threat, and support for the Iranian people’s efforts to bring about a representative government.” — Andrea Stricker, Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program Deputy Director and Research Fellow

“Iran is barely making an effort to veil its nuclear ambitions. By edging ever closer to weapons-grade enrichment while signaling potential shifts in its nuclear doctrine, Tehran is delivering an unmistakable and deeply ominous message. Time is a luxury the international community no longer has — Iran’s status as a threshold nuclear state means that delay only serves its strategy of stalling talks while advancing its capabilities.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst