Iran Rejects U.S. Demands, Vows to Maintain Nuclear Program
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has delivered an ultimatum to the United States, asserting that Washington has no place in the Middle East and declaring that Tehran will never back down from maintaining its nuclear capabilities.
The leader stated on April 30 that Iran will continue to safeguard its nuclear potential as a vital national asset.
These remarks are expected to escalate tensions, particularly following recent rumors of potential negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, which were reportedly predicated on Tehran abandoning its nuclear weapons program and related activities.
In a written statement read on Iranian State Television, Mojtaba Khamenei remarked that the only place the U.S. belongs is "underwater," signaling a firm demand for the U.S. to withdraw from the Persian Gulf.
The statement comes as Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. Consequently, the price of a barrel of oil has surged by 7%, exceeding $126—the highest level seen since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
However, Iran’s own industries are feeling the squeeze as the U.S. continues to intercept and block tankers carrying Iranian oil.
"With the help and power of God, the future of the Persian Gulf will be bright without U.S. involvement. It will be a place of progress where the people are supported in peace and development," Khamenei stated.
The Supreme Leader—who was severely impacted by the Israeli attacks that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, on February 28, —called for regional unity to discourage "the enemy."
"We and our neighbors in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman share a common vision," he said. "Foreigners who travel thousands of kilometers with evil intentions and greed have no place here; the only place for them is at the bottom of these waters."
While Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful development, the U.S. remains unflexible about preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Mojtaba Khamenei, however, insisted that the program is a resource that Iran must fully exploit.
He noted that 90 million Iranians, both at home and abroad, take pride in their nation’s excellence in culture, science, industry, and technology—specifically medical and nuclear technology—making it impossible to abandon these advancements.
"We will protect it," he concluded, "just as they protect their own water, land, and air."
