Supreme Leader Khamenei says uranium enrichment is “non-negotiable” as tensions rise over nuclear talks
TEHRAN, June 4, 2025 — Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, firmly rejected a key U.S. demand to suspend uranium enrichment, dismissing recent diplomatic efforts aimed at reviving a nuclear agreement.
“Halting uranium enrichment contradicts the national interest of Iran,” Khamenei said in a nationally televised speech, describing the proposal as an affront to the Islamic Republic’s sovereignty and self-sufficiency.
The proposal, reportedly delivered by Omani mediators over the weekend, followed five rounds of indirect negotiations between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The talks have so far failed to resolve critical sticking points — chief among them Iran’s insistence on continuing uranium enrichment and its refusal to eliminate existing stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, which experts say could be used for nuclear weapons production.
Khamenei: “We Will Not Surrender to Arrogance”
Khamenei said the demand “goes against our belief in self-reliance and the principle of ‘we can do it’,” adding that “enrichment is a central part of our nuclear program, which is why our enemies are focused on it.”
He further rebuked Washington, saying: “The rude and arrogant leaders of America constantly say we shouldn’t have a nuclear program. Who are they to decide for Iran?”
Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear program is peaceful, a position long disputed by Western powers, who warn that Iran is edging closer to weapon-grade capabilities.
U.S. Maximum Pressure Resumes Under Trump
The deadlock comes as President Donald Trump, now in his second term, has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, combining economic sanctions with threats of military action if diplomacy fails.
In 2018, during his first term, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (formally known as the JCPOA), reimposing crippling sanctions that devastated Iran’s economy. In response, Iran began enriching uranium beyond JCPOA limits, escalating nuclear tensions with the West.
Outlook: No Breakthrough in Sight
Despite mediation by Oman and mounting international concern, diplomatic progress appears stalled. Analysts warn that unless a compromise is found soon, the region could face renewed instability, with the threat of military confrontation looming larger.
Iran’s hardline stance suggests it will not trade away what it considers a strategic right — even under escalating pressure from the United States and its allies.
