Khamenei urges vigilance but open to conditioned nuclear agreement

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
11 Jun 2023 16:01

Iranian Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei says a nuclear deal could be reached under the condition that Iranian nuclear infrastructure remains intact.

Iranian Leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei visits an exhibition of the country's nuclear achievements, at his office compound in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 11, 2023. (AP)

Iranian leader Sayyid Ali Khamenei stated in a meeting with a group of nuclear experts and officials in Tehran on Sunday that there is nothing wrong with reaching a nuclear deal with the US if Iran’s nuclear infrastructure remains untouched.

However, Ayatollah Khamenei urged vigilance when dealing with the West, as "it has reneged on its promises many times and its untrustworthiness is now proven."

Sayyid Khamenei explained, "You may want to reach agreements in some fields. Nothing is wrong with [reaching] agreements, but the infrastructure must remain intact. They must not be harmed. They are the fruit of others’ endeavors."

Moreover, the Iranian leader reminded, “We were dealt blows because of these misplaced trusts. It is very important that a nation and the officials of a country know and understand where they should trust and where not. We have understood it over the past twenty years. We understood who is trustworthy and who is not."

He also noted that Iran's opponents exploit the allegations that it is building nuclear weapons as a justification to strike the country, but the accusations have been nothing more than a ruse, and they are fully aware of it.

“The enemies have created a nuclear challenge for us for twenty years because they know that the movement in the nuclear industry is the key to the country’s scientific progress," Sayyid Khamenei said.

Significantly the Iranian leader stressed “Based on our Islamic basis, we do not want to go towards [nuclear] weapons. Otherwise, they (the enemies) would not have been able to stop it, as until now they could not stop our nuclear developments."

The nuclear industry, according to Sayyid Khamenei, is one of the most crucial parts of the country's advancement in many disciplines.

Moreover, the Iranian leader said that the industry has played a major role in improving people's lives in the technological, economic, and health domains, as well as contributing to the country's global and international political positioning.

Despite restrictions, threats against scientists, and the assassination of some of them, the Iranian leader underscored that the nuclear challenge has proved the incredible competence and brilliance of Iranian youth.

The past 20 years, he stressed, demonstrated the extent of the unreliability of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has given Iran assurances in bilateral talks, and voiced the contrary in the discussions aimed at reviving the 2025 nuclear agreement.