In a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that decades of international pressure had failed to stop Iran’s nuclear program and would continue to fail.
“For decades, there have been attempts to pressure Iran, our officials, and our governments to abandon this work,” he said. “We have not yielded to pressure, and we will not. The U.S. now insists that Iran should have no enrichment at all. What does that even mean? It would erase the achievements for which our country has worked, invested, and endured great difficulties. The Iranian nation will not accept this.”
No Benefit in Negotiating with the U.S.
Ayatollah Khamenei also addressed calls for renewed negotiations with Washington, saying that engaging with the U.S. under current circumstances would bring no benefit.
“Negotiation with the U.S. in the present situation does not advance our national interests. It brings no benefit and will not prevent any harm,” he said. “It is a fruitless endeavour for our country.”
Uranium Enrichment Levels and Non-Proliferation
The leader highlighted Iran’s advancements in uranium enrichment, noting that the country has increased enrichment to 60 percent purity — a level needed for domestic purposes but below weapons-grade levels.
“Countries that aim to build nuclear weapons go up to 90 percent. We do not need weapons and have no intention of developing them, but we maintain enrichment,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Iran is one of only ten countries in the world with this capability. Our program is backed by dozens of leading scientists, hundreds of researchers, and thousands of trained personnel. Science cannot be destroyed by bombs or threats; it endures.”
Unity in Iran Remains Strong
Ayatollah Khamenei said: “Some pretend that unity was only for the days of war. This is completely false,” he said. “In political matters, there are differences of opinion. We also have many ethnic groups in the country, all of whom are proud to be Iranian. But in the face of the enemy, this whole body is a steel fist that will strike the enemy.”
He added that attempts from abroad to exploit political disputes and ethnic divisions to stir unrest had failed, noting that both security forces and ordinary Iranians had prevented disruption.
Enemy’s Goals
The Leader noted that the aim of Iran’s adversaries was not only to target senior commanders but to create chaos on the streets of Tehran and other cities.
“The goal was the Islamic Republic itself,” he said. “They wanted to create sedition, street unrest and divisions, but this was thwarted from the very first steps.”
He added that mass demonstrations that did take place were directed “against the enemy, not against the Islamic system.”
Tribute to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
Ayatollah Khamenei also marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hezbollah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, calling him a “great wealth for the Islamic world.”
“He was not just for Shia or Lebanon. He was a wealth for the whole Islamic world,” Khamenei said. “He is gone, but the wealth he created remains.”
Iran's leader said Hezbollah should not be underestimated, describing it as a continuing force with influence well beyond Lebanon.
Mojtaba Darabi - Mojtaba Darabi
