Tehran is ready to reduce uranium enrichment from 60% to 20%

Ali Shamkhani, a senior official in the Supreme National Defense Council and political advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized that Iran’s nuclear program is “peaceful and locally managed,” while offering a conditional gesture.

“Our 60% enrichment can be reduced to 20% if there are genuine concerns, but they must offer something in return.”

He said the 60% enrichment level serves a dual purpose: countering “enemy conspiracies” and providing leverage in negotiations.

Addressing the issue of nuclear weapons, Shamkhani cited the religious decree issued by Ayatollah Khamenei.

“The West perhaps does not understand, or chooses not to, that possessing weapons of mass destruction is forbidden by religious decree,” he said, adding that this principle “is non‑negotiable and stems from the vision of a religious authority.”

Shamkhani also noted that the exact quantity of Iran’s current stockpile remains unclear, as part of it lies beneath rubble from the June US-Israeli strikes.

It is currently too dangerous to extract, he said, adding that the IAEA is working with Iran to safely estimate the remaining amounts.