![Iranian exiles describe plutonium project; Khamenei denies nuclear ambitions](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) [official website], the political wing of the outlawed Mujahideen-e-Khalq guerrilla movement [Wikipedia backgrounder], said Friday that Iran is developing a plan to produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. While the European Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency [official website; JURIST news archive] are diverted with the country's uranium enrichment activities, NCRI reports that Iranian officials are pleased with the progress of the heavy water program at Arak [Global Security backgrounder], which could produce plutonium. The NCRI is considered a terrorist organization by the US State Department; however, they have conveyed accurate information regarding Iran's nuclear activities in the past. Reuters has more.
Meanwhile, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [official website in English; BBC profile] told worshippers Friday that Iran had no interest in atomic weapons, but would not stop its nuclear development program. Khamenei accused Western leaders of propaganda to mislead public opinion about Iran's nuclear intentions and of dissuading nuclear power development to keep Iran dependent on foreign nations. Reuters has more.