Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday categorically ruled out any chance of suspending the nation’s nuclear programme, saying that Tehran would not cut back on its nuclear activities “under any circumstances,” despite the eighth day of hostilities with Israel and the focus of attacks on nuclear sites.
Talking to French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s position on continuing peaceful nuclear endeavors. “We are willing to sit and negotiate and cooperate to establish confidence for our peaceful nuclear programme. Cutting our nuclear programme to zero is an impracticable idea,” he stated, as per Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Pezeshkian also gave a severe warning about ongoing Israeli military aggression, threatening a harsher retaliation. “Our response to the aggression of the Zionist regime will be even more crushing,” he said.
He emphasized that Iran’s entitlement to have a civilian nuclear programme is guaranteed under international law and must not be taken away through war or coercion. “The rights awarded by international law to states cannot be withdrawn by means of threats or war,” he said to Macron.
Efforts at de-escalating the situation have so far collapsed. Negotiations in Geneva on Friday did not make any meaningful progress. As diplomats from Europe expressed optimism that the talks would continue, Iran’s Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Tehran is not interested in direct negotiations with America unless Israeli attacks cease. “Diplomacy can resume once aggression ceases and those responsible are brought to book,” he said in a statement to reporters.
In the meantime, common Iranians are largely in the dark, with digital monitor NetBlocks.org reporting on Saturday that internet connection around the country had once more collapsed amidst a wider, days-long blackout.
The conflict raging on and Tehran’s unyielding nuclear policy continue to sound alarm throughout the region, as diplomatic roads remain tense and anxieties of wider escalation linger.
