Iran will not allow enriched nuclear material to leave the country, security chief says

DUBAI — Iran's Security Chief Mohsen Rezaei declared in televised remarks that the nation will not permit any enriched nuclear material to leave Iran, and warned of repercussions should the United States launch fresh attacks. Rezaei spoke to Lebanon's pro-Iranian Al Mayadeen TV after U.S. officials minimized the necessity for additional military action against Iran, a response that came in the wake of President Donald Trump's more diplomatic stance following the Republican Party's loss in the November 3 midterm elections.

Rezaei clarified that there are currently no ongoing discussions between Tehran and Washington. He further stated that any subsequent U.S. strikes would be met with targeting U.S. bases overseas, including those in European countries if utilized to carry out attacks on Iran. According to two senior Iranian sources in May, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a directive prohibiting the country's near-weapons-grade uranium from being sent abroad.

Rezaei explained that Iran requires the enriched material to develop ships and submarines powered by nuclear energy.