Iran responds to 'producing nuclear weapons' allegations

According to a written statement from the Iranian Presidency, Pezeshkian received International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi in Tehran.

During the meeting, stating that his country's nuclear program is continuing within the framework of cooperation with the IAEA and that they are ready to dispel doubts, Pezeshkian said, "As we have emphasized many times, Iran, based on the clear fatwa of the Supreme Leader (Khamenei), has not sought and will not seek to build nuclear weapons in any way. No one will be allowed to deviate from this policy of his."

Touching upon Israel's threats, Pezeshkian noted that the international community must stop Israel, which is committing genocide and war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.

"WE WILL RESPOND DECISIVELY"

Pointing out that otherwise the war would spread, Pezeshkian said, "We believe that war is not in our interest, nor in the interest of the region or the world. No sane person would try to start a war and spread it, but we will certainly respond decisively to any action against our security."

IAEA Director General Grossi also expressed his belief that Pezeshkian's term in office would be a positive period in terms of cooperation with the Agency. Grossi pointed out that good interaction and cooperation between Iran and the Agency would certainly dispel doubts regarding Iran's nuclear activities.

Kamal Kharrazi, head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, which reports to Iranian leader Khamenei, said in a speech on May 13 that if Tehran were threatened by Israel, the only nuclear-armed state in the region, the fatwa of Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei prohibiting the production and use of weapons of mass destruction could change.

Abbas Araghchi, who was Kharrazi's deputy at the time and is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs following a vote of confidence in Parliament, also said in a speech at the Al Jazeera Forum held in Qatar on May 27 that the nuclear threat posed by Israel would force regional countries to reconsider their nuclear stances.

Against the threats of Israel, which is the only nuclear-armed state in the region, calls are occasionally made in the country for Khamenei to review the aforementioned fatwa.

News Source: AA