Iran rejects removal of enriched nuclear material

Iran rejects removal of enriched nuclear material

Iran has firmly rejected any proposal to transfer its enriched nuclear material outside the country, with senior security official Mohsen Rezaei declaring that Tehran would not allow even the smallest quantity of its nuclear stockpile to be removed.

Speaking in an interview with Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen television, Rezaei said Iran would maintain control over its enriched nuclear material, signalling a hardline position ahead of any potential negotiations with Washington.

The statement comes as the United States insists that Iran’s nuclear programme must form part of the initial discussions aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Washington has maintained that nuclear-related concerns should be addressed as part of any diplomatic settlement.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over Washington’s approach towards Tehran, accusing American officials of repeating policies that have previously failed to achieve their objectives.

In a post on X, Araghchi drew a comparison between Rubio’s recent remarks and statements made by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo eight years ago. He argued that Washington continued to rely on economic pressure and political demands rather than pursuing meaningful diplomatic engagement.

Araghchi also referred to the impact of US policies on Cuba, saying that Rubio was repeating the same rhetoric despite the consequences experienced by people of Cuban origin.

“Forget about the inhumanity. It’s the delusions that are producing failed US policy,” he wrote, criticising what he described as unrealistic expectations within the American administration.

Four crew members, including an Indian national, sustained injuries after a projectile struck a Liberia-flagged vessel in the Gulf, according to officials on Wednesday.

Indian Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed the incident in a statement on X, saying the vessel, MT Fujairah Energy, was hit on November 10 while carrying six Indian seafarers.

The minister said four crew members suffered injuries in the incident, although further details about the nature of their injuries and the extent of damage to the vessel were not immediately available.

Sonowal said Indian authorities were closely monitoring developments and maintaining contact with the shipping company to ensure the safety and security of the crew.

He added that the government was also working to ensure that the injured seafarers received appropriate medical assistance and that the wellbeing of all Indian nationals aboard the vessel remained a priority.

The incident has added to concerns over maritime security in the Gulf, where tensions and military confrontations have raised risks for commercial shipping and international energy supplies.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has condemned military threats against his country, questioning their implications for international peace and the credibility of the global security system.

In a post on X, Pezeshkian challenged the justification offered for military action against Iran, arguing that the stated objective of preventing Tehran from developing nuclear weapons contradicted the weapons used during the conflict.

He pointed to the reported use of a Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) in Lamerd, suggesting that the development raised serious questions about the arguments presented by Iran’s adversaries.

“They waged war, claiming to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Then they used the PrSM missile in Lamerd for the first time,” Pezeshkian wrote.

His remarks reflect Tehran’s growing criticism of the military campaign and its wider consequences for regional stability.

The Iranian president’s comments also highlight the widening diplomatic divide between Tehran and Washington, as disagreements over nuclear activities, military operations and regional security continue to complicate efforts to bring the conflict to an end.