The Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Jamenei, has issued a directive for enriched uranium not to leave the country, as two high-level sources told Reuters. The ayatollah's order could thwart US President Donald Trump, as it was one of his main demands, and complicate negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.
Iranian leaders, the sources added, believe that sending the material abroad would make the country more vulnerable to future attacks from the United States and Israel.
This new order comes after the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmail Baqai, said that his country is "examining" a new US proposal, while Trump warned that negotiations are "right on the edge" between reaching an agreement or restarting attacks.
Bishop of Mallorca criticizes Trump and Netanyahu: "Beware of using the word of God for personal interests"
The Bishop of Mallorca, Sebastià Taltavull, has warned about the speeches of those who "use the word of God for their own interests."
"The Church does not preach ideology, does not provide a political thought. Beware of those who do have that political interest and who want to use the Church for their interests," Taltavull reflected on Thursday in a meeting with the media within the framework of the World Communications Day. In this sense, the bishop referred to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as examples. "Trump makes his people pray. If they pray to win the war, that is not a pure prayer. This is not Christianity," he asserted.
Iran's Supreme Leader orders enriched uranium to remain in Iran, according to Reuters
The Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Jamenei, has ordered that Iranian reserves of enriched uranium not leave the country, according to two high-ranking Iranian sources, as reported by Reuters. The ayatollah's order could further frustrate US President Donald Trump and complicate negotiations to end the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Israeli officials told Reuters that Trump assured Israel that Iranian reserves of highly enriched uranium -- necessary for making a nuclear weapon -- would be removed from the country and that any peace agreement should include a clause to that effect.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he will not consider the war over until enriched uranium is removed from Iran, Tehran stops supporting allied militias, and its ballistic missile capabilities are eliminated.
"The Supreme Leader's directive, and the consensus within the system, is that the reserves of enriched uranium should not leave the country," one of the Iranian sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
According to the sources, top Iranian leaders believe that sending the material abroad would make the country more vulnerable to future attacks from the United States and Israel.
UAE official dismisses Iran's Hormuz project as a "pipe dream"
A United Arab Emirates official on Thursday dismissed the Iranian project to control the Strait of Hormuz as a "pipe dream," covering an area that extends to the waters south of the strategic Emirati port of Fujairah.
"The regime (Iranian) is trying to impose a new reality born of an evident military defeat, but attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz or affect the maritime sovereignty of the UAE are nothing but a pipe dream," wrote the advisor to the Emirati president, Anwar Gargash, on social media, as reported by Reuters.
Iran rebuilding its military industrial base faster than expected, according to CNN
Iran has already resumed part of its drone production during the six-week ceasefire that began in early April, reported CNN on Thursday, citing two sources familiar with US intelligence assessments.
US intelligence indicates that the Iranian military is rebuilding much faster than initially estimated, the report added, citing four sources.
Pakistan's army chief to travel to Tehran on Thursday
Pakistan's army chief, a mediator between the United States and Iran, Asim Munir, is expected to arrive in Tehran on Thursday, according to Iranian media, as part of efforts to reach a peace agreement.
Following the visit of the Pakistani Interior Minister, General Munir's trip aims to "continue discussions with Iranian officials," reported the ISNA news agency and other media outlets, as reported by Afp.
Iran executes two people accused of security offenses
Iran executed two individuals on charges related to creating a group aimed at disrupting the country's security and belonging to a "terrorist" organization, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday, as cited by Reuters.
Tasnim identified the two executed individuals as Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour.
Trump: "Negotiations are on the edge"
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Wednesday that talks with Tehran are "on the edge" between reaching an agreement to end the war in the Middle East or restarting attacks against Iran.
"It's right on the edge, believe me," Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, near Washington, when asked about the status of the discussions with Iran.
"If we don't get the right answers, it moves very quickly. We are totally prepared to act. We have to get the right answers: they have to be completely good answers, one hundred percent," the president affirmed, as reported by Afp.
Iran examines the US proposal
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmail Baqai, stated that they are "examining" a new US proposal during the visit to Tehran by the Pakistani Interior Minister, a mediator in these discussions.
"We have received the views of the US side and are currently examining them," declared the spokesman on state television, expressing "great distrust" towards Washington. The spokesman reiterated Iran's demands: "The unlocking of frozen Iranian assets abroad and the end of the US blockade of Iranian ports," as reported by Afp.