Iran may sever ties with the International Atomic Energy Agency if threats of external military force from the U.S. continue, an advisor to the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader said Thursday.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned in an X post Thursday that external threats could destroy Iran’s relationship with the nuclear watchdog.
“The continuation of external threats and Iran being in a state of military attack may lead to deterrent measures, he wrote. “Including expulsion of inspectors from IAEA and cessation of cooperation.”
He added that in the face of continued threats from the U.S., Iran may resort to moving its enriched uranium to “secure locations.”
Mr. Shamkhani’s warning follows Mr. Trump’s promise to use military force if Iran refuses to dismantle its nuclear program. In comments on Wednesday, Mr. Trump reiterated that he would take any action necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, including using military force.
The president added that Israel would take a leading role in any military action taken against Iran.
Mr. Trump’s comments cast a shadow over the upcoming nuclear negotiations between the U.S. in Iran. Negotiators from the U.S. and Iran will travel to Oman on Saturday for high-stakes talks concerning Iran’s nuclear program. The White House has insisted that this weekend’s negotiations will be direct, but Iran has contradicted U.S. leaders, saying the talks will be mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.
Iran has long insisted that its nuclear program is peaceful, but nuclear watchdogs say that Iran has surpassed the uranium enrichment level needed for civilian use. Iran has also ramped up uranium enrichment in the years after Mr. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which exchanged limitations on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear programs for sanctions relief.
