Khamenei: Atomic Energy Organization Should Prepare for 190,000 SW Uranium Enrichment

The leader of the Islamic Republic urged the Atomic Energy Organization to prepare for Iran to achieve 190,000 SW (separation units of uranium isotopes) "as soon as possible" within the framework of the JCPOA. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaking on Monday, June 4, during the 29th anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, also asked the Atomic Energy Organization to start "some other preparations" that the Iranian president had previously ordered. Iran's need to have 190,000 SW was one of Khamenei's red lines before reaching the Vienna nuclear agreement. However, by accepting the terms of this agreement, the number of centrifuges allowed for Iran will be limited to 5,060 old P-1 centrifuges instead of 120,000 units for at least ten years after the agreement is implemented. Iran's enrichment capacity is currently about 6,000 SW. According to previous statements by the leader of the Islamic Republic, Iran's enrichment capacity before the Vienna nuclear agreement was 10,000 SW. Minutes after the U.S. exited the JCPOA, Hassan Rouhani announced that he had instructed the Atomic Energy Organization to prepare for "unlimited industrial enrichment." He also stated that Iran would wait a few weeks to negotiate with the countries that signed the JCPOA and remained committed to it. Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, also stated on May 14 that if Europe exits the JCPOA, Iran would increase its enrichment from 4% to 20% and higher. Before the JCPOA, Iran enriched uranium to 3.5% and at one point to 20%. According to the Vienna nuclear agreement, Iran committed to stop its enrichment activities above 3.5%. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, had previously stated that if the Vienna nuclear agreement falls apart, the Islamic Republic could resume 20% enrichment at the Fordow site within four days. However, Behnam Bayat, a nuclear physics expert, called Salehi's statements "exaggeration," stating that while 20% enrichment is not technically impossible, it cannot be achieved in five days. Khamenei also claimed that European countries "expect" both sanctions to remain and nuclear restrictions to continue. He addressed European countries, saying, "This troubled dream will not come true; the Iranian nation and government will not tolerate being under both sanctions and nuclear confinement." Khamenei mentioned that some in the country are trying to impose a flawed version of the JCPOA, and some inside say that if this does not happen, there will be war, stating, "No, this is a lie; this propaganda benefits the enemy." The leader of the Islamic Republic had previously outlined seven conditions for Iran to remain in the JCPOA, including the issuance of a resolution against the U.S. in the UN Security Council, not addressing Iran's missile program and regional actions in negotiations, ensuring trade with Iran by European banks, guaranteeing the full sale of Iranian oil, compensating for past betrayals, and countering U.S. sanctions. Regarding his seventh condition, he stated that if Europeans delay responding to the demands, Iran reserves the right to resume nuclear activities. Khamenei also mentioned that "enemies" are exerting "three pressures: economic, psychological, and practical" on the Islamic Republic with the aim of "dominating" Iran. He emphasized that they want to exhaust the Iranian nation with "economic pressure and sanctions" so that the Islamic regime is forced to submit to their bullying, stating, "They neither understood the nation nor the regime." Khamenei also referred to what he called "psychological pressure from enemies," considering the Islamic Republic's missile program as a "source of security" for Iran and threatened that "if the enemy launches one missile, ten will be fired back." He criticized those who, according to him, "collaborate with the enemy" inside the country and call the Islamic Republic's missile program "useless." Stopping the development of ballistic missiles is one of the twelve demands of the U.S. from Iran. Before the U.S. exited the JCPOA, Washington and three European countries stated that Iran's missile program is not in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and is a "source of instability and insecurity" in the region. However, the Islamic Republic claims that its missiles are not designed to carry nuclear warheads. Khamenei also considered "supporting resistance forces" against Israel as a "matter of honor" and referred to those chanting "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, my life is for Iran" during the 2009 protests as "despicable beings." Khamenei claimed that "the enemy uses" popular protests and "creates chaos" in Iran as a "definite plan of enemies." He stated that "the enemy brings a few wicked and evil people into gatherings" to turn these gatherings into "chaotic movements." In recent weeks, the head and spokesman of the judiciary have warned about what they call the "exploitation" of protests by the U.S. and Israel and threatened that security agencies will deal with "lawbreakers" and protests that "disturb the country's security." Sadeq Larijani, head of the judiciary, stated that this branch is "paying attention to where some movements originate from with the help of its agents and will severely confront those who intend to exploit some situations." In recent weeks, protest actions, including truck drivers' strikes, gatherings of people in Kazeroon, and workers' protests at Hepco, have received widespread attention. These actions are the latest examples following the suppression of protests in December 2017 by security forces, which left at least 25 dead and hundreds injured, with around five thousand arrests. Some analysts have predicted that following the U.S. exit from the JCPOA and the return of its sanctions against Iran in the coming months, the country's economic situation will experience new shocks and protests will become widespread. Meanwhile, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the U.S. intends to exhaust the Iranian nation with "economic pressure and sanctions" so that the Islamic Republic is "forced to submit to their bullying, but they neither understood the nation nor the regime." Although some laws in Iran recognize the holding of protests, permits are rarely issued for gatherings, and security forces have clashed with many labor and economic protests.