Iran will not allow even a single particle of its enriched uranium to leave the country, the country’s top security official said on Wednesday, drawing a hard line on the one issue Washington has said must be part of any talks to end the war between the two countries.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said there would be consequences if the United States launched new strikes on the Islamic Republic, and warned that any fresh attacks would be met by targeting American bases far away.
Rezaei was speaking to Lebanon’s pro-Iranian Al Mayadeen television channel, days after US officials played down the need for further military action and analysts noted a more conciliatory tone from President Donald Trump since the Republicans’ defeat in the November 3 midterm elections.
He also said there are currently no negotiations taking place between Tehran and Washington, undercutting hopes of a diplomatic opening after months of war.
The remarks come after Iran sent the United States a nuclear proposal via Qatar last week, to be discussed only once Washington meets seven demands Tehran has presented, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. Washington has said nuclear issues must be part of any initial negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has directed that the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium should not be sent abroad, two senior Iranian sources said in May. The International Atomic Energy Agency estimated that Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent — far above the level needed for civilian use — when Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June 2025. How much of that stockpile survived is unclear.
Israel, the United States and other Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran denies the accusation.
Note for the reader: Rezaei’s remarks were reported by Reuters from his televised interview with Al Mayadeen, a pro-Iranian channel; the account of his comments is single-sourced to that interview.
Sources: Reuters — “Iran will not allow enriched nuclear material to leave the country, security chief says” (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-will-not-allow-enriched-nuclear-material-leave-country-security-chief-says-2026-11-11/)
