TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut has reaffirmed Tehran’s unwavering stance to enrich rich uranium by saying the Islamic Republic will not compromise on legal qualifications under the Legal Qualifications (NPT) under the Non-Strengthening Treaty (NPT).
Speaking during a joint session with representatives from the Pugwash Conferences on science and world affairs adopted Friday night by Iran’s atomic energy organization, Iran said that while it is ready to build confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, it does not accept restrictions beyond the NPT framework.
“As a founding advocate for West Asia’s nuclear-weaponless zone and a longtime NPT member, Iran has shown his sincerity by engaging in indirect consultations with the United States,” he said. “However, the Iranian state cannot lose its legitimate rights to peaceful nuclear technology, including enrichment that is enriched by the NPT.”
Araguchi highlighted the cost of Iran defending its rights, recalling decades of sanctions and the assassination of several countries’ nuclear scientists.
“For over 30 years, Iranians have endured economic pressures and made deep sacrifices to ensure national independence and nuclear self-sufficiency,” he pointed out. “The blood of our brightest young people was shed on this path.
He also paid tribute to the lost scientists and emphasized Iran’s resolve to continue his peaceful nuclear pursuit, while maintaining engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other stakeholders to promote transparency and trust.
In his remarks, Araguchi criticizes the US’s changing and contradictory position, attributes inconsistent messaging to an internal cleavage influenced by Israeli pressure.
“It is now clear that Washington’s diplomatic versus diplomatic elements, acting in partnership with Netanyahu’s dangerous agenda, are actively undermining progress,” he said. “Internal politics is one thing, but allowing hardliners to hijack negotiations through certain framework changes is counterproductive and unacceptable.”
Pugwash Conferences, a 1995 Nobel Peace Prize winner, is an international initiative that brings together scientists and policymakers to reduce the risk of armed conflict and develops evidence-based security solutions, particularly regarding the threat of nuclear and WMD.
Iran and the US held four rounds of indirect negotiations through Oman on Iran’s nuclear program. Although both sides have described the talks as positive, Iran has rejected the Western demands that are deemed excessively to seek a complete halt of uranium enrichment, particularly in exchange for sanctions relief.