Iran dismisses G7 statement on nuclear program
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani underlines that the Iranian nuclear program is entirely peaceful, dismissing the G7's statement about it.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed allegations from the Group of Seven (G7) regarding Iran's nuclear program, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaan firmly rejecting the G7's claims, which cast doubt on the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities.
The G7 had issued a warning to Iran on Friday, cautioning against advancements in its nuclear enrichment program and suggesting potential new measures if Tehran were to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia.
Kanaani criticized the G7's reference to a recent anti-Iran resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Board of Governors, calling it a politically motivated move. He argued that certain governments were abusing international mechanisms to target sovereign states like Iran.
"Iran will continue its constructive interaction and technical cooperation with the IAEA within the framework of its duties and rights," Kanaani stated, emphasizing that Tehran remains committed to its peaceful nuclear projects in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Safeguards Agreement, despite political pressures.
He attributed the current tensions to "illegal measures" by the United States and the UK, France, and Germany, asserting that these countries need to demonstrate goodwill and avoid politically driven actions to address all parties' concerns.
Kanaani reiterated Iran's commitment to regional stability and national security, stating, "The Islamic Republic of Iran will act decisively to protect and defend its national security and interests against any ill-advised measure."
G7 ignoring humanitarian issues
On the issue of human rights, Kanaani accused G7 leaders of ignoring the "systematic massacre" of Palestinians by what he termed the "apartheid and aggressive Zionist regime." He stressed that this inaction represents a significant challenge to achieving international human rights goals.
Addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, Kanaani dismissed attempts to link Iran-Russia cooperation to the war, labeling such efforts as politically motivated. He condemned the use of unfounded allegations to justify continued sanctions against Iran.
Kanaani concluded by urging the G7 to abandon previous destructive policies and learn from past mistakes, advocating for a more constructive approach to international relations.
It was said ahead of the G7 summit that the leaders would be discussing Iran's regional influence, namely its nuclear program and its "support to proxy forces", utilizing the Western narrative to frame the relationship between Iran and the Resistance forces within the region that Iran is closely allied to.
It was also said that the Iranian nuclear program would be discussed amid Western insistence that Tehran is manufacturing nuclear weapons rather than using its nuclear program for peaceful purposes.