Supreme Displeasure

The perceived incongruity between the U.S. government’s confidential diplomatic proposals to Iran and President Donald J. Trump’s public pronouncements against domestic uranium enrichment by Iran has increasingly aggravated the leadership in Tehran. Marking the 36th anniversary of the death of Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founding leader of the Islamic Republic, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once again articulated strong anti-U.S. rhetoric, employing notably more confrontational language, but is not likely to stop the negotiations with the United States, as continued talks minimize the risk of war.  

• June 4: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, as posted on his website:  

• • “What benefit is there in having hundreds of nuclear power plants if we lack the capability to enrich uranium and secure our own nuclear fuel? These power plants require fuel, and, if we are unable to produce it domestically, we become dependent on the United States. And the United States may attach numerous conditions to the delivery of that fuel. We have experienced this before.” 

• • “In the 2000s, the United States – through a number of friendly intermediaries – proposed that Iran provide a sample of its 3.5% enriched uranium in exchange for an equivalent quantity of 20% enriched uranium, which we needed at the time. Our authorities accepted the offer. However, I told our government: ‘Let them first deliver the 20% enriched uranium … We will test it to confirm its quality. Once we are assured it is what they claim, we will hand over the 3.5% enriched uranium in exchange.’ When they realized we were serious, they withdrew the offer and failed to deliver. In the meantime, our scientists succeeded in enriching uranium to the 20% level themselves.” 

• • “What the Americans are effectively saying is this: ‘You should not have a nuclear industry at all. You should remain dependent on us for nuclear medicine, energy, desalination, and so forth.’ The impolite officials of the United States have the audacity to repeat this demand in various forms. They oppose progress – specifically, the progress of the Iranian nation and its independence. Our response to the irrational and blustering statements of the American government is clear – and it will remain clear.” 

• • “Those in power today, the Zionist-Americans, they should know that they can’t do a damned thing … Who the hell are you to meddle in Iran having or not having enrichment capability? What is it to you? You have nuclear power, the nuclear bomb, and destruction of the world is in your hands. What is it to you that Iran has or does not have nuclear enrichment? Who the hell are you, and what is the legal basis of your claims?” 

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