Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the country will not abandon its uranium enrichment program even if war is forced upon it, underscoring Tehran’s firm stance on its nuclear activities.
Araqchi’s comments came just two days after nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat, Oman, where he met with US envoy Steve Wittkopf.
Speaking at a forum in Tehran, the minister defended Iran’s right to pursue enrichment, saying the nation has “paid a heavy price for its peaceful nuclear program and for uranium enrichment.”
“Why do we insist so strongly on uranium enrichment and refuse to give it up even if war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to dictate our actions,” Araqchi said, emphasizing Iran’s sovereign decision-making.
He also addressed recent US military deployments aimed at pressuring Iran, stating that such buildups “do not frighten us.” Araqchi affirmed that Iran remains committed to diplomacy but did not rule out military readiness: “We are a diplomatic nation, and we are also a nation of war, but that does not mean we seek war.”
The comments highlight Tehran’s hardening rhetoric amid ongoing international efforts to resolve tensions over its nuclear program. Iran’s enrichment activities have been a major point of contention with the United States and Western powers, which have long sought limits on the country’s nuclear capabilities, reports Al-Rai daily.
