Pezeshkian: US obliteration of Iran’s nuclear program ‘an illusion’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected as an “illusion” US president’s claim of total obliteration of Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that the Islamic Republic will continue the development of its peaceful nuclear industry “within the framework of international laws.”
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera aired on Wednesday, Pezeshkian said the claim made by Donald Trump “that our nuclear program is over is just an illusion,” adding that the country’s nuclear capabilities reside in the minds of its scientists and not in the facilities.
Pezeshkian said Iran would continue its uranium enrichment program despite opposition from some Western countries, saying the development of its nuclear abilities would be carried out “within the framework of international laws.”
“[US President Donald] Trump says that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and we accept this because we reject nuclear weapons and this is our political, religious, humanitarian and strategic position,” he said.
“We believe in diplomacy, so any future negotiations must be according to a win-win logic, and we will not accept threats and dictates.”
Pezeshkian’s comments echoed earlier remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said in an interview with US broadcaster Fox News aired Monday that Tehran would never abandon its uranium enrichment program, but was open to a negotiated solution to solve a decades-long dispute over its nuclear program.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian said that his country is prepared for any fresh act of aggression by the Israeli regime, adding that he was not optimistic about a cease-fire announced by the US president to end the last month’s aggression by the Israeli regime against Iran, in which the US intervened on Israel’s behalf, launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
“We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again,” Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera.
Iran was not relying on the cease-fire that ended the 12-day war to hold, he said.
“We are not very optimistic about it,” said Pezeshkian. “That is why we have prepared ourselves for any possible scenario and any potential response. Israel has harmed us, and we have also harmed it. It has dealt us powerful blows, and we have struck it hard in its depths, but it is concealing its losses.”
He added that Israel’s strikes had sought to “eliminate” Iran’s hierarchy, “but it has completely failed to do so.”
Last month, Iran’s Armed Forces fired hundreds of missiles toward the occupied territories in response to the regime’s aggression against Iran on June 13, which claimed the lives of nearly 1,100 Iranians, including civilians, military figures and nuclear scientists.
Iran’s retaliatory attacks forced the regime to request a cease-fire only after 12 days.