Trump denies Iran deal will allow enrichment, threatens military action

After five rounds of negotiations, the US presented a proposal that would let the Islamic Republic enrich uranium at low levels while blocking its path to producing a nuclear weapon. 

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

US President Donald Trump insisted on Friday that a nuclear deal with Iran would not allow uranium enrichment.

“They won’t be enriching. If they enrich, then we’re going to have to do it the other way,” he said, hinting at a possible military strike.

The US has been making contradictory statements about whether a nuclear agreement will allow Iran to enrich uranium and, if so, to what level.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been adamant about not allowing Iran to enrich uranium at all.

However, Netanyahu promised Trump that Israel would not launch an attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities unless negotiations fail.

After five rounds of negotiations, the US presented a proposal that would let the Islamic Republic enrich uranium at low levels while blocking its path to producing a nuclear weapon.

However, Iran rejected the offer, saying that the proposal was “unprofessional and untechnical,” and insisted that the Islamic Republic had the right to enrich uranium as it sees fit.

“After receiving the American proposal regarding the Iranian nuclear program, we are now preparing a counteroffer,” Ali Shamkhani, political adviser to Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in an interview on Wednesday.

He added that the plan was “not well thought out” and failed to address the primary concern of Iran, which is the issue of lifting sanctions.

“There is no mention whatsoever of lifting sanctions in the latest American proposal, even though the issue of sanctions is a fundamental matter for Iran,” Shamkhani said.

The Iranian official also warned that Tehran will not allow the US to dismantle its “peaceful nuclear program” or force uranium enrichment down to zero.

“Iran will never relinquish its natural rights,” Shamkhani said.

Khamenei also dismissed the offer directly, saying it “contradicts our nation’s belief in self-reliance” and runs counter to Iran’s key objectives.

“The proposal that the Americans have presented is 100 percent against our interests,” the Iranian leader said in a speech.

“The rude and arrogant leaders of America repeatedly demand that we should not have a nuclear program. Who are you to decide whether Iran should have enrichment?” Khamenei continued.