Pezeshkian: Iran will never cave in to excessive demands
President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that Iran will never surrender in the face of excessive demands after the UN Security Council voted not to permanently lift sanctions under European pressure.
Speaking at a ceremony honoring the 2025 International Science Olympiads medalists, the Iranian president vowed that Iran would overcome any reimposition of sanctions on it through a so-called "snapback" process triggered by the European parties to the 2015 nuclear agreement. "Through the 'snapback' they block the road, but it is the brains and the thoughts that open or build the road," Pezeshkian said. "They cannot stop us. They can strike our Natanz or Fordow (the nuclear facilities attacked by the US and Israel in June), But they are unaware that it is humans who built and will rebuild Natanz," Pezeshkian said.
Power to change
The Iranian president underlined that, "We will never surrender in the face of excessive demands because we have the power to change the situation.”
Pezeshkian’s remarks came after a Security Council resolution aimed at halting the reimposition of sanctions on Iran failed after weeks of diplomatic talks.
The resolution put forth by South Korea, the current president of the 15-member council, did not garner the support of the nine countries required to halt the series of sanctions from taking effect at the end of the month, as outlined in the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Four countries – China, Russia, Pakistan and Algeria – supported the effort.
The Security Council’s move came after Britain, France and Germany launched a 30-day process last month to reimpose sanctions, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by the 2015 deal with world powers.
Iran has rejected their claims and says that it is Europe that failed to fulfil its commitments under the deal after the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018.
The snapback would reimpose an arms embargo, a ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, a ban on activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, a global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities.
Opportunity for dialogue missed
Iran's Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani on Friday reacted in the strongest terms to the vote, saying that council “missed the opportunity for dialogue and agreement today.”
He called the resolution "hasty, unnecessary and unlawful."
"This reckless step undermines dialogue without aggression and sets a dangerous precedent," he added. "The E3 (France, Britain, Germany) and the US, in coordination with Israel, are spreading false claims that Iran's nuclear program threatens peace and security."
‘Unfair pressure’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected "unfair pressure" on his country in a telephone call Friday with the UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi, saying that it could lead to an escalation of tensions.
The foreign ministry also reacted to the UN vote, saying that, "The full responsibility for the consequences of this action... lies with the United States and the three European countries.”
The European governments "have not yet shown independence and have followed the unilateral and illegal policies of America," the ministry added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday slammed the vote and warned of a risk of an "escalation of tensions.”
"These actions have nothing to do with diplomacy and lead exclusively to a further escalation of tensions surrounding the Iranian nuclear program," the ministry said.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said in an interview with Al Mayadeen television that the three European countries are looking for an excuse to increase tensions.
Khatibzadeh emphasized that the path of diplomacy is not closed yet, and diplomacy is always a better option compared to escalating tensions.
British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said the UK remains committed to a diplomatic solution and is ready for further engagements diplomatically in the next week and beyond to seek to resolve differences.