Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei maintained that “we are in no rush for the U.S. to return to the JCPOA. This is not the issue for us whether the U.S. returns to the JCPOA or not. If the sanctions are not lifted, then the U.S.’s return to the JCPOA might even be to our disadvantage”. Khamenei also commended the increase in Iran’s uranium enrichment rates and argued that “when almost all of the other side’s commitments in the JCPOA are not honoured, it does not make sense for the Islamic Republic to honour all its commitments”, adding: “If they return to their commitments, we will return to ours as well”. He went on to contend that Iran’s “presence in the region is a definite matter, which should and will continue”. Commenting on Iran’s missile capability, Khamenei asserted that “we have no right to leave our country defenseless. We should not do something that emboldens the enemy, and makes us unable to respond”.