A political advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has reaffirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium, saying the country is drafting a counter-proposal to the latest US nuclear offer.
“After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing our new counter-proposal,” Ali Shamkhnai said in an interview with Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television network on Wednesday.
He added that the US proposal for a nuclear agreement was not well thought out and made no mention whatsoever of lifting the sanctions.
He criticized the omission of sanctions relief in the US offer, describing it as a “fundamental” issue for Tehran.
“There is no mention whatsoever of lifting sanctions in the latest American proposal, even though the issue of sanctions is a fundamental matter for Iran,” the Leader’s aide said.
Shamkhani underlined, “Iran will never relinquish its natural rights.”
He said Iran will not allow the United States to achieve its objectives regarding the elimination of Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program and reduction of the level of uranium enrichment to zero.
Addressing a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Khamenei said uranium enrichment is the key to Iran’s nuclear issue, dismissing the US demand for Tehran to ultimately stop all enrichment in the country.
The Leader’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump outlined his administration’s position when it comes to nuclear negotiations with Iran and said Tehran will not be allowed “any enrichment of uranium.”
US media reports said Tuesday the Trump administration is proposing an arrangement that would permit “limited low-level uranium enrichment on Iranian soil for a to-be-determined period of time.”
Iran and the US have so far held five rounds of indirect talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
However, the talks have faced an obstacle over the US demand that Iran should stop enriching uranium under any new deal.
Iranian officials have firmly rejected the demand.
