Iran has vowed to keep all its enriched nuclear material within the country and warned that any fresh US military strikes would trigger retaliation, including possible attacks on American bases overseas.
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei issued the warning during a televised interview with Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen TV, as Washington appeared to adopt a less aggressive stance towards Tehran.
Rezaei insisted that Iran would not allow even the smallest amount of its enriched nuclear material to be transferred overseas.
He also warned that any renewed American attack would prompt Iran to strike US military installations far from its territory.
“Any new US attacks will also be met with targeting US bases far away,” he said.
Rezaei added that American bases in European countries could also be targeted if they were used to launch military operations against Iran.
His remarks came after US officials played down the need for further military action against Tehran, with analysts pointing to a more conciliatory tone from President Donald Trump following the Republicans’ defeat in the November 3 midterm elections.
Rezaei also said there were currently no negotiations taking place between Iran and the United States.
On the nuclear issue, he said Tehran intended to retain its enriched uranium for domestic use, claiming the material was needed for nuclear-powered ships and submarines.
“We need the enriched material to design ships and submarines that work on nuclear energy,” he said.
He added that Iran had informed Moscow that its enriched nuclear material would remain inside the country and be used by Tehran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader had previously issued a directive prohibiting the transfer of the country’s near-weapons-grade uranium overseas, according to two senior Iranian sources who spoke to Reuters in May.
Russia had earlier offered to remove uranium from Iran as part of a possible agreement aimed at addressing US concerns. However, Moscow said the decision ultimately rested with Tehran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimated that Iran possessed 440.9kg of uranium enriched to 60% when Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025.
It remains unclear how much of the enriched uranium survived those strikes.
Uranium enriched to 60% is significantly above the level typically required for civilian nuclear energy, although it remains below the approximately 90% enrichment level generally associated with weapons-grade material.
Israel, the United States and other Western nations have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, allegations that Tehran continues to deny.
Washington has insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme must be addressed in any initial negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the two countries.
Last week, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had sent a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar.
However, the official said Iran would only discuss the proposal after the United States agreed to meet seven demands put forward by Tehran.
