The United States administration is daydreaming if it believes Tehran would transfer its highly enriched uranium out of the country, said Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for Iran’s National Security Committee, on Saturday.
He denied reports and claims made by US President Donald Trump that Iran has agreed to shift its uranium to a third country under proper protocol. Russia had reportedly already made an offer to accommodate the fissile material, as it maintains the capacity to store it.
Rezaei was quoted by reporters on Saturday as saying that Tehran “categorically rejects” anything related to zeroing out enrichment or halting its peaceful nuclear programme, as it considers this a strategic red line.
He said Iran will defend its right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes and is ready to defend itself if the United States resorts to aggression.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Iran would turn over its enriched uranium stockpile, writing again in a post on Friday that “the USA will get all Nuclear ‘Dust’.”
Meanwhile, Rezaei’s comments were reiterated by Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, who also dismissed Trump’s claims.
“Enriched uranium is as sacred to us as Iranian soil and will not be transferred anywhere under any circumstances,” Baghaei said.
Meanwhile, both sides are expected to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, for the second round of peace negotiations, after the Iranian delegation outrightly rejected sitting anywhere for talks but Islamabad.
However, with current conflicting statements from both sides, the situation is likely to get tense, and the two sides could return to escalations if the deadlock over nuclear issues prevails.
The war has already threatened global oil and energy shipping routes, with Iran threatening to close the Gulf of Oman and Bab al-Mandeb in the Red Sea.
Also read: Ceasefire may end if no deal reached by Wednesday, says Trump
Follow us
