Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to uranium enrichment, dismissing the growing US military presence in the Middle East as an attempt at intimidation. Speaking on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would not abandon its nuclear activities, even under the threat of war.
Araghchi questioned Washington’s sincerity in reviving nuclear negotiations and said Iran was in talks with its strategic partners, China and Russia.
“Why do we insist so much on enrichment and refuse to give it up, even if a war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to dictate our behaviour,” Araghchi said, according to AFP. “Their military deployment in the region does not scare us.”
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Iran’s uranium enrichment programme has long been a central point of contention with US President Donald Trump, whose administration bombed Iranian nuclear sites in June during the 12-day Iran–Israel conflict.
The United States has warned of possible military intervention following Iran’s crackdown on anti-government protests last month. Washington has also deployed additional forces to the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with warships and warplanes, in an effort to pressure Tehran into a new agreement.
Despite the escalating tensions, Araghchi said Iran’s strength lies in its ability to resist external pressure. “I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran's power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination and pressures from others,” he said while addressing diplomats at a summit in Tehran.
“They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb,” Araghchi added. “Our real weapon is the power to say no to the great powers.”
