IRAN’S Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today slammed a US proposal on Tehran’s nuclear programme, vowing that the country will not give up its uranium enrichment.

The proposal, delivered to Iranian officials on Saturday via Oman, which has mediated indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, is the latest attempt to revive stalled nuclear negotiations.

But Mr Khamenei, speaking in a televised address marking the anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s death, dismissed the plan as “100 per cent against our interests,” accusing Washington of demanding the dismantling of Iran’s entire nuclear infrastructure.

“Uranium enrichment is the key to our nuclear programme, and the enemies have focused on this because it represents self-reliance,” Mr Khamenei said.

“The rude and arrogant American leaders keep repeating their demand that we give it up. Who are you to decide whether Iran should enrich uranium?”

Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but Western powers have long accused Tehran of using it to pursue nuclear weapons — a claim Iran denies.

Details of the US proposal remain vague, but according to a report by Axios, the draft includes the formation of a nuclear consortium that would handle uranium enrichment for Iran and other regional states.

Iran would reportedly be allowed to enrich uranium up to 3 per cent for a while, but it remains unclear whether Tehran would be forced to give up its domestic enrichment capacity entirely.

Tensions could rise further if the negotiations collapse. Israel and the US have repeatedly threatened to attack Iranian sites if diplomacy fails.