Nuclear enrichment an excuse for confrontation: Khamenei

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that Western demands over Tehran’s nuclear programme are an excuse to confront the Islamic Republic, a day after US President Donald Trump warned about renewed strikes if Iran restarts nuclear work.

“Nuclear programme, enrichment, human rights are all excuses … What they are after is your religion and knowledge,” Reuters quoted Khamenei as saying.

US TO BOMB AGAIN

The statement came a day after President Donald Trump warned that he would order fresh US
attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities should Tehran try to restart facilities that the United States bombed last month.

Iran, which denies seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, has insisted it will not give up domestic uranium enrichment despite the bombings of three nuclear sites.

Trump told reporters Iran has been sending out “nasty signals” and any effort to restart its nuclear program would be immediately quashed.

“We wiped out their nuclear possibilities. They can start again. If they do, we’ll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it,” Trump said.

DECISIVE IRANIAN RESPONSE

But Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is fully aware of the impact of what he called the American-Israeli aggression on both sides and warned that any repeat of such actions would prompt a decisive response.

“If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up,” Araghchi posted on X, without providing further specifics.

At the same time, he also mentioned the long-term national interests in these words.

“No one in their right mind would abandon the fruits of tremendous investment in homegrown and peaceful technology which is saving lives — and simply because bulling foreigners demand it.”

Meanwhile, Araghchi went on to say that Iran’s “determination” remains intact, as he highlighted the prominent words in cap, just like Trump do.

“All should know that we Iranians have NOT BOUGHT our PEACEFUL nuclear programme; we have BUILT IT WITH BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS.”

“The technology and know-how that our FORMIDABLE human resources have developed CANNOT be destroyed by bombings. Yes, our enrichment facilities are severely damaged, but our DETERMINATION IS NOT.”