Iran Enriched Uranium Will Not Leave the Country, Rezaei Vows in Warning to US Bases

Iran will not allow "even a single particle" of its enriched uranium to leave the country, the Islamic Republic's security chief declared on Wednesday, in a defiant televised address that also warned Washington that any new American strike would be answered by attacks on United States military bases far from the Middle East — including installations in Europe that the US believes are beyond Tehran's reach.

Key Points

• Mohsen Rezaei said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that Iran will not allow "even a single particle" of enriched uranium to leave the country.
• Rezaei warned that any new US strike on Iran would be met by targeting American bases far away, including distant installations in Europe that Washington believes are beyond Iranian missile range.
• He said Iran needs the enriched material to design nuclear-powered ships and submarines and small modular reactor power plants, and that Tehran has told Moscow the material will remain in Iran: "we will use it ourselves."
• The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent — far above civilian needs — when Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June 2025.
• Western intelligence estimates reported on Wednesday put Iran's current ballistic-missile production at up to 50 a month, about half its prewar capacity, with a stockpile of about 1,700 missiles.

What Happened

Speaking on Al Mayadeen TV on Wednesday, Rezaei set out Tehran's position in blunt terms. The enriched uranium that Iran has accumulated — including the near-weapons-grade material enriched to 60 percent purity — will not be shipped abroad under any deal, he said. Iran needs it, he argued, to design nuclear-powered ships and submarines and to build small modular reactor power plants.

He also confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a directive barring the country's near-weapons-grade uranium from being sent abroad, a position two senior Iranian sources described in May. The directive, if it holds, removes the single concession that outside negotiators have most often demanded: that Iran's most dangerous stockpile be taken out of its hands. Rezaei added that Tehran has told Moscow the material will remain in Iran: "we will use it ourselves."

Then came the threat. Rezaei warned there will be consequences if the United States strikes Iran again, saying any new American attacks would be met by targeting US bases far away — including distant installations in Europe that Washington believes are beyond Iranian missile range. The deliberate mention of Europe widens the geography of the war in a way Tehran has rarely done so explicitly.

Background: Iran's Enriched Uranium and Nine Months of War

The war between the United States and Iran is now in its ninth month, having begun on February 28, 2026. It has already included Israeli and American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, before the current war, and a rolling series of American operations since, including secret raids on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz that were reported in early November.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's director general, Rafael Grossi, told the UN Security Council on October 27 that the agency had not identified any activity to repair or reconstruct the facilities damaged in the 2025 and 2026 strikes. But the same briefing underlined the unresolved problem at the heart of the standoff: the IAEA estimates Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent when the June 2025 attacks happened, and that stockpile has not been verified since.

Reactions and Quotes

Rezaei's own words carried the day. "Even a single particle" of enriched nuclear material will not leave Iran, he said, and Tehran has told Moscow the material will remain in the country: "we will use it ourselves." On retaliation, he was equally direct: any new US attacks would be met by targeting American bases far away, including installations in Europe that Washington believes are beyond Iranian missile range.

The remarks contrast sharply with the tone coming from Washington in recent days. Vice President JD Vance said on Monday, November 2, after speaking to President Trump, that Washington has made "progress" in talks with Iran and that he and Trump "both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement." Asked whether Iran had been given a deadline before strikes resume, Vance said: "No, we haven't set deadlines." He added that the top US priority is a firm, verifiable commitment that Iran will not rebuild its nuclear programme, which he said the United States had destroyed.

Why It Matters

The uranium stockpile is the war's hardest problem. As long as 440.9 kilograms of 60-percent-enriched uranium sits somewhere in Iran, unverified by inspectors, every claim that the nuclear programme has been destroyed is incomplete. A negotiated settlement that leaves the material in Iranian hands would be denounced by Israel and by hawks in Washington as a failure; a settlement that demands its removal has now been publicly rejected by Tehran's security chief.

The Europe threat matters for a different reason. American bases in Europe have been treated as safely beyond Iranian reach. Rezaei's warning that they are not changes the risk calculation for European governments that have so far treated the US-Iran war as a distant conflict. If Tehran can credibly threaten bases in Europe, the war's political geography expands overnight, and with it the pressure on European capitals to push for a settlement — or to prepare for escalation.

What Happens Next

Three tracks now run in parallel, and they point in different directions. The diplomatic track continues through Qatari mediators, with both sides reported to be reviewing suggestions in Doha. Vance's insistence that there is "no strict deadline" gives that track time, but Rezaei's public red lines narrow what any deal can contain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Mohsen Rezaei say about Iran's uranium?

Iran's security chief said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that Iran will not allow "even a single particle" of enriched uranium to leave the country.

How much enriched uranium does Iran hold?

The IAEA estimates Iran held 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent when Israel and the United States attacked its nuclear facilities in June 2025. It has not been verified since.

Did Rezaei threaten US bases in Europe?

Yes. He warned any new US strike would be met by targeting American bases far away, including in Europe. He named no specific bases.

How many ballistic missiles does Iran still have?

Western intelligence estimates reported on Wednesday put Iran's stockpile at about 1,700 ballistic missiles, with current production of up to 50 a month — roughly half its prewar capacity.

Are the US and Iran negotiating?

Washington says talks have made "progress" with "no strict deadline" for a deal, per Vice President JD Vance. Rezaei denied on Monday that any talks are under way.

Related Coverage

Related: Iran Security Chief Rezaei: No US Talks Under Way, Hormuz Stays Shut Until Demands Met; Iran Unveils Underground 'Missile City' as US Weighs Next Move After Qeshm Strikes; and Vance Says US-Iran Talks Are Making Progress With No Deadline for a Deal.