Iran will not allow even a single particle of enriched nuclear material to leave the country, and there will be consequences in the event of any new U.S. strikes on the Islamic Republic, Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei said in televised remarks.
Mr. Mr. Rezaei was speaking to Lebanon’s pro-Iranian Al Mayadeen TV after U.S. officials downplayed the need for additional military action against Iran, with analysts noting President Donald Trump’s more conciliatory tone since the Republicans’ defeat in the November 3 midterm elections.
Rezaei has said there are currently no negotiations taking place between Tehran and Washington. “Any new U.S. attacks will also be met with targeting U.S. bases far away,” he said. Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a directive that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, two senior Iranian sources said in May. “We need the enriched material to design ships and submarines that work on nuclear energy”, Mr. Rezaei said, adding that Tehran has informed Moscow that its enriched nuclear material will remain in the country and “we will use it ourselves”. Russia has previously offered to remove uranium from Iran as part of a potential deal to ease U.S. concerns, but said it was for Tehran to decide whether to remove it or not. Washington has said nuclear issues must be part of any initial negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the war between the two countries.
