Attempt by US, Israel to terminate Iran’s nuclear programme ‘an illusion’ – Pezeshkian
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that US and Israeli efforts to terminate Tehran’s nuclear programme are futile and mere illusion.
“These efforts are based on illusion,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with Qatar’s Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
He said Iran would continue uranium enrichment within the framework of international law, referencing assertions made by US officials, including President Donald Trump, that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been neutralized.
“Nuclear capability resides in the minds of our scientists, not in our facilities,” the president said while reaffirming Iran’s longstanding position that it does not seek nuclear weapons.
“We categorically reject possessing nuclear weapons,” he said. “This is our political, religious, human, and strategic position.”
Pezeshkian said Tehran remains open to diplomatic engagement but insisted any negotiations must acknowledge Iran’s right to enrich uranium for civilian use.
“Any future negotiations must be based on a win-win logic,” he said.
He also issued a stark warning to Israel, saying Iran is ready to respond forcefully to any future attacks.
“We are fully prepared for any Israeli military action, and our forces stand ready to strike deep into the occupied territories once again,” he said.
Talks between Iran and the US were being held through Omani mediators until Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which triggered a 12-day war, targeting military, nuclear, and civilian sites as well as senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli military, intelligence, and energy facilities.
Iran accused the US of complicity in the attack, which killed top Iranian military officials, nuclear scientists, and civilians. The US also launched strikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites, claiming to have obliterated them.
A US-brokered ceasefire between the two countries was announced on June 23, while new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran, the UK, France, and Germany is set for Friday in Istanbul.
