Razaei: Iran Will Not Allow Export of Enriched Nuclear Materials - Sarmad

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in an interview with the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen television channel that Tehran would not allow even a single grain of enriched nuclear material to leave the country, warning that any new American attacks on the Islamic Republic would have consequences.

Rezaei’s remarks to the pro-Iranian station came after U.S. officials downplayed the need for any additional military action against Iran, while analysts noted that the tone of U.S. President Donald Trump has become less aggressive since the Republicans’ defeat in the midterm elections on November 3.

Rezaei confirmed that Tehran and Washington are not conducting any negotiations at present.

He said, “Any new attacks by the United States will also be met with targeting distant U.S. bases.” He added that this includes U.S. bases in European countries if they are used to carry out strikes on Iran.

Two senior Iranian sources reported in May that Iran’s Supreme Leader had issued directives not to send enriched uranium to levels close to those used in weapons production abroad.

Rezaei said, “We need enriched material to design nuclear-powered ships and submarines,” adding that Tehran had informed Moscow that enriched nuclear material would remain in the country and “we will use it ourselves.”

Russia had previously offered to transport uranium from Iran as part of a potential deal to ease U.S. concerns, but stated that the decision to transfer it or not rests with Tehran.

The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity—a level far higher than required for civilian purposes—when Israel and the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. It remains unclear how much remains.

Israel, the United States, and other Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran denies these allegations.

The United States insists that nuclear issues must be part of any preliminary negotiations with Iran aimed at ending the war.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters last week that Tehran had sent Washington a proposal regarding the nuclear file via Qatar, which would not be discussed unless Washington met seven demands presented by the Islamic Republic.