- Shamkhani said the rich material was transferred on the cards as well.
- FM Araghchi will meet with U.S. envoy Witkoff on Saturday.
- If U.S.-Iran negotiations fail, Trump threatens military action.
Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Thursday that Iran could expel inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog multiplied by a “threat” before major talks with the United States.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Ali Shamkhani’s comments are the first of Iranian officials if negotiations fail to reach a deal.
“Continuing external threats and Iran’s military attacks could lead to deterrent measures, including expelling inspectors from the IAEA and cessation of cooperation,” Shamkhani said on X.
He added: “It is also possible to consider transferring rich materials to safe locations.”
Foreign Secretary Abbas Araghchi will meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday, talking about Washington as the last chance to peacefully resolve Western nuclear program against Iran.
Last month, Trump wrote to Khamenei that Khamenei had the final say on Iran’s national affairs, calling for direct negotiations but warned of military action if diplomacy failed.
When asked if military operations could be chosen, Trump told reporters on Wednesday. “If military is needed, we will be military. Israel will obviously be very involved and become a leader.”
Iran insists that this is direct negotiation against direct negotiations and its great enemies, but has left a door for indirect negotiations.
In 2015, Iran reached a landmark nuclear deal with major powers, lifting it out of international sanctions in exchange for restrictions on nuclear activities regulated by UN inspectors.
But in 2018, during Trump’s term, the United States withdrew the deal and restored picky sanctions on Iran.
A year later, Iran began to speed up its nuclear program in line with the agreement’s commitments.
