Pezeshkian: Iran rejects nuclear zeroing, warns 'Israel' of response
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Tehran is ready to guarantee peaceful nuclear use but rejects total rollback, warning the Israeli regime of a stronger retaliation.
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a memorial at the parliament in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (AP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed on Saturday that Tehran is prepared to engage in dialogue and cooperation to guarantee the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, but made clear that the Islamic Republic would never accept the total dismantling of its nuclear activities.
“We are ready for dialogue and cooperation in order to build confidence and guarantee the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities. At the same time, we do not accept the zeroing of nuclear activities under any circumstances,” Pezeshkian stated during a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Pezeshkian’s comments come amid the ongoing war waged by the Israeli occupation against Iran over its peaceful nuclear program, as the Israeli occupation seeks to dismantle said program itself away from international mechanisms and in utter violation of international law and institutions.
Iran to respond 'strongly' to aggression
The Iranian president also issued a stark warning to "Israel", declaring that continued aggression will be met with a far stronger response from Tehran.
“If the aggression of the Israeli regime continues, Tehran will give a more crushing and decisive response,” he said.
Pezeshkian declared on Sunday that the Islamic Republic has never sought war, but warned that the continuation of Israeli aggression, carried out with direct US involvement, will be met with a powerful and uncompromising response.
"The United States is undoubtedly playing a direct role in the Israeli military operations," Pezeshkian stated during a cabinet session, as reported by Fars news agency. He noted that the ongoing attacks on Iranian territory are not unilateral acts by Tel Aviv but the result of calculated coordination with Washington.
Pezeshkian revealed that US envoy Steve Witkoff had told Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that "Israel cannot do anything without Washington's permission." He added, "Israel's actions are being carried out with the direct approval of the United States."
US support behind the curtain
Despite White House attempts to maintain a facade of neutrality, recent disclosures confirm Washington's deep involvement. An Axios report revealed that "Israel's" assault on Iran was the culmination of eight months of clandestine planning, carried out with a covert green light from the Trump administration.
Israeli officials told Axios that Trump and his aides had only pretended to oppose the strikes publicly, while privately offering full support, "We had a clear US green light," one senior Israeli source admitted.
Confirming Iran's assertions, US President Donald Trump stated in a recent ABC News interview that "it's possible we could get involved" in the war, while simultaneously denying current military engagement.
However, Trump also admitted that "Israel used great American equipment" during the strike, an admission Tehran views as direct evidence of complicity in what Iranian officials have called "state terrorism."
