Iran's Nuclear Program: Khamenei Defies West Amidst Russian Plant Deal

Iran's Nuclear Stance

• 🇺🇸 Donald Trump asserted that Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
• 🇮🇷 In response, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed the country would not yield to pressure to halt uranium enrichment.

Russia-Iran Nuclear Cooperation

• 🇷🇺 Russia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to build small nuclear power plants in Iran, announced by the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
• 🤝 The agreement was described as a “strategic project” by Rosatom.

International Negotiations and Inspections

• 🌍 Iran and Europe remained at an impasse regarding a deal to prevent the reinstatement of UN sanctions.
• 🔍 The possibility of starting inspection work is dependent on the political will of Iran, with inspectors on their way.
• 🤝 State parties to the NPT with a comprehensive safeguards agreement do not decide whether an inspection can be done.