Iran VP Raises Questions Over Nuclear Enrichment After Supreme Leader’s Death

Iran VP Says He Would Have Halted Enrichment to Prevent Supreme Leader’s Death

Iranian Vice President Jafar Ghaempanah has said he would have supported stopping uranium enrichment if he had known that the United States would kill Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Speaking in remarks carried by Iranian state media, Ghaempanah argued that Iran should avoid paying an excessive price for objectives that could potentially be achieved at a lower cost. He questioned attacks on Iranian industries, roads, refineries and electricity infrastructure, warning that damage to key facilities could increase unemployment and further hurt the economy. 

“If it were me, and I knew America would martyr our leader, I would have stopped enrichment,” Ghaempanah said.

He added that Iran’s priority should be to preserve the country itself, rather than seek objectives at an unsustainable cost.