'Iran VP says he would have halted enrichment to avoid attack on leader'

 

Iranian Vice President Jafar Ghaempanah said he would have stopped uranium enrichment if he had known the United States would kill Iran's supreme leader, according to remarks carried by state media.

“If it were me, and I knew America would martyr our leader, I would have stopped enrichment,” said Ghaempanah, executive vice president to President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“Why should they hit our industries and our roads? Why should they hit our refineries and electricity?” he said. “Hitting electricity and refineries means our unemployment will increase.”

Ghaempanah said Iran should avoid paying excessive costs for objectives that could be achieved at a lower price.

“What cost could be higher than the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader?” he said.

“We are not all supposed to become martyrs. Iran is supposed to remain,” he added.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202608288269