On the eve of critical talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers, the Supreme Leader has led the regime in its insistence on a program for nuclear energy.

Ayatollah Khamenei’s office put out another series of tweets on Sunday setting out Tehran’s requirement of self-sufficiency:

Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, Germany, France, China, and Russia) renew talks in Vienna on Tuesday, six days before the expiry of interim arrangements.

The central issue is the level and number of Iran’s centrifuges for uranium enrichment. The US is insisting on a reduction of Tehran’s current operating stock of about 10,000 centrifuges, with no introduction advanced models. The Islamic Republic maintains it needs a significant expansion of output, with the Supreme Leader setting a goal of a 20-fold increase.

Khamenei’s office emphasized that Iran should not be excluded from the progress of peaceful development:

And it concluded with a jab at the US for not being so peaceful in its own approach:

The Supreme Leader’s message was reinforced on Sunday by Ali Shamkhani, the Secretary of the National Security Council, as he met senior Chinese officials:

Since the very first day, all peaceful nuclear activities of Iran have been conducted based on real needs and under the supervision of the [International Atomic Energy] Agency’s inspectors.

Iran has acted upon its undertakings with good will and within the framework of the [interim] Joint Plan of Action and if the other side adopts a logical and non-political approach based on the realities on the ground, reaching an agreement in the nuclear negotiations will be possible rapidly.

Shamkhani reiterated fundamental demands, “Annulment of all the cruel sanctions and maintenance of all the legal rights of Iran within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty should be envisaged in any agreement.”