TEHERAN/LOS ANGELES- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Wednesday rejected the US proposal for a nuclear deal that would prohibit any uranium enrichment, emphasizing that uranium enrichment is a 'key' component of Teheran's nuclear program.

He made the remarks at a ceremony in Teheran to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, according to footage of his speech published on his website.

Iran's leader said the nuclear industry was not solely for the generation of clean and cheap energy, as it was a "parent industry, which affects numerous scientific areas," including those pertaining to manufacturing medical devices, the aerospace sector, among others.

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Without uranium enrichment, the nuclear industry was useless, Khamenei said, pointing out that the United States' main demand was for Iran to abandon its nuclear industry entirely and instead rely on the US for radiopharmaceuticals, atomic energy, and other related needs.

"Our response... is clear, the United States and Israel cannot do a damn thing against Iran's nuclear industry," he said.

Iran's leader added that the country had managed to develop the complete nuclear fuel cycle.

His remarks came one day after US President Donald Trump, in a statement on his social media site Truth Social, said that under a potential nuclear agreement with Iran, the United States would not allow any enrichment of uranium.

Since April, Iran and the United States have held five rounds of indirect discussions -- three in Muscat and two in Rome -- focused on Teheran's nuclear activities and the potential easing of US sanctions. A sixth round is anticipated to be held in the coming days, although its date and venue have not been announced.

In recent days, the United States has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Teheran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday reiterated that Teheran will not abandon uranium enrichment on its soil, rejecting renewed US calls to halt the process as a condition for a potential nuclear deal.

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In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi responded to recent remarks by US officials, including Trump.

"To reiterate: No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal," Araghchi wrote.

He said Iran had developed the capacity to fuel nuclear reactors through years of investment in its industrial, academic and technological infrastructure, noting that few countries possessed such capabilities.

"There is a reason why only a few nations master the ability to fuel nuclear reactors," he said. "It requires significant financial resources, political will, a solid industrial base, and a technological-academic complex to produce the necessary expertise. We paid dearly for it, and we will not give up on the patriots who made our dream come true."

Meanwhile, Trump said he discussed the Iranian nuclear issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin via a phone call on Wednesday and urged Iran to make decision "pertaining to nuclear weapons" quickly.

Recounting the 75-minute call with Putin, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social account the two leaders "discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran's decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!""I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement," Trump wrote, adding that "it is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!"

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He also revealed that Putin suggested getting involved and pushing the discussion between Washington and Teheran to go ahead.

"President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion," Trump said.