Iran reaffirms right to peaceful nuclear program, vows not to bow

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 May 2025 11:28
2 Shares

Senior Iranian officials stress Tehran’s legal right to nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, reaffirming commitment to peaceful enrichment and cooperation with the IAEA.

Listen

In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, second right, listens to the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, as he visits an exhibition of Iran's nuclear achievements, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s principled stance on its legal entitlement to peaceful nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In a joint meeting with the delegation of the Pugwash International Conference on Friday night, hosted by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Araghchi emphasized that Iran, as a longstanding NPT member and a proponent of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in West Asia, has consistently acted in good faith by entering four rounds of indirect talks with the United States.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to build confidence regarding the continuation of the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, but it cannot compromise on the legitimate and lawful right of the Iranian nation to peaceful nuclear energy—including enrichment, which according to the Non-Proliferation Treaty is granted to every member country," he indicated.

High costs and sacrifices in pursuit of peaceful nuclear energy

Reflecting on Iran's decades-long effort to preserve its nuclear rights, Araghchi noted the material, human, and scientific costs borne by the Iranian nation.

"Over the past three decades, the Iranian nation has paid a very high price to maintain its independence and to achieve nuclear technology and enrichment, enduring not only illegal and oppressive sanctions but also sacrificing its best sons on this path," the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

Nuclear weapons forbidden by religious decree

Araghchi underlined that, beyond political and legal frameworks, Iran forbids the production and use of nuclear weapons based on religious principles.

Commitment to dialogue and cooperation with IAEA

Honoring the memory of Iran’s martyred nuclear scientists, the foreign minister affirmed the country's determination to advance peaceful nuclear knowledge.

He stated that Tehran remains open to dialogue and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international parties to ensure transparency.

US contradictions complicating diplomacy

Araghchi also criticized conflicting statements from US officials, saying they hinder diplomatic progress and raise doubts about Washington’s sincerity.

Iran will continue pursuing its lawful positions under international commitments, regardless of these contradictions, he asserted.

Pezeshkian affirms Iran will not yield to threats

On his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in remarks delivered Saturday, underscored that Iran would not abandon its rights or achievements under foreign pressure.

“We will not bow to bullying,” he underlined, asserting that Iran remains steadfast across all sectors despite mounting threats.

Condemnation of double standards on terrorism

Pezeshkian denounced the assassination of Iranian scientists while Iran is simultaneously accused of terrorism.

“We are victims of terror,” he said, adding that Iran’s refusal to submit to external intimidation has led to its wrongful branding as a "source of insecurity in the region."

"Trump has said things in [his visit to] the region that no one but himself can believe. On the one hand, he is speaking of peace, and on the other hand, he is saying that they have created a tool that is terrible," the Iranian president pointed out.

"We negotiate and do not seek war, but we are not afraid of any threat either."

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump urged vigorous enforcement of sanctions on Iran, even as he said he hoped to reach a negotiated agreement in nuclear talks.

"I want to make a deal with Iran. I want to do something, if it's possible," Trump told a summit of Gulf Arab leaders in Riyadh.

"But for that to happen, it must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars, and permanently and verifiably cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons," he added.

AEOI chief highlights transparency of Iran's nuclear program

In a related context, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, emphasized on Friday that Tehran's nuclear program remains peaceful, transparent, and fully supervised by the IAEA.

He noted that Iran's nuclear facilities are subject to continuous and rigorous inspection by the IAEA. In 2024 alone, the agency conducted more than 450 inspections in Iran, amounting to nearly 25% of its global inspections for the year.

Despite having an installed nuclear capacity that constitutes only 3% of the world’s total, Iran remains one of the most closely monitored countries by the agency.

Reiterating Iran’s longstanding position, Eslami affirmed that Tehran has consistently upheld a peaceful approach in its nuclear activities, even in the face of threats and mounting political pressure.

Eslami rejects claims of nuclear threat

The AEOI chief criticized efforts by Iran’s adversaries to portray the country’s nuclear advancements as a threat. He described such claims as “unprofessional” and rooted in political bias rather than factual assessments.

Eslami reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine. This principle, he said, remains unchanged and is based on both legal and ethical commitments.