Iranian officials openly discuss country's ability to make nuclear weapon
Fox News
Some officials have maintained that the country's Supreme Leader Khamenei has no interest in producing a nuclear weapon, despite the ability to make weapons-grade material.
Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, gives his official seal of approval to newly elected President Ebrahim Raisi in an endorsement ceremony in Tehran, Iran. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP) In this picture released by the official website of the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei speaks during a meeting with army, air force and air defense staff in Tehran, Iran, Feb. 7, 2021. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) This file photo from Dec. 23, 2019, released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, shows technicians at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit as officials and media visit the site. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, file) Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news.
Eslami also referred to comments made by Kamal Kharrazi, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in mid-July told Al Jazeera that the country was able to enrich uranium "up to 60%" but could "easily produce 90% enriched uranium," the level at which it is considered weapons-grade.
Eslami’s agency later walked back the comment, saying he "misunderstood and misjudged," taken by some as a sign that Iran’s government didn’t want him to be so specific with his language.