Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Tehran is ready to reassure the international community that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy as it negotiates with the United States to end hostilities in the region.
“We are ready to assure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons and are not seeking unrest in the region,” Pezeshkian said during a visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), according to state outlet Press TV.
He said the Islamic Republic remained open to providing assurances that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful, while insisting that Iranian negotiators would not compromise on “national dignity and honour” in the talks with Washington. Tehran maintains that, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes such as energy generation, medical applications and research.
Pezeshkian also accused Israel of being a principal source of instability in the region, saying it “uses every opportunity to keep war and instability alive.”
The statement is the clearest public signal yet from Iran’s head of state on its nuclear posture since framework negotiations with the US gathered pace. It contrasts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, and follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s prediction of “good news” within hours on the diplomatic track.
While Iran has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons, the US and its allies allege Tehran may be working towards weaponisation capability. Axios, citing a US official, reported that the memorandum for a 60-day US-Iran ceasefire is in its final stages.
The remarks build on President Trump’s claim that an agreement has been “largely negotiated” and Pezeshkian’s earlier insistence that the war “must end”.
Source: Ada Derana — Iran “not seeking nuclear weapons,” says President Pezeshkian.
