Iranian president addresses the UN: We have never sought to acquire a nuclear bomb

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in his speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Tehran has never sought to produce nuclear weapons and will continue to refrain from doing so. He also criticized the actions of Israel and the US against nuclear facilities.

"Before this assembly, I reiterate that Iran has never sought and will never seek a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons," he emphasized just days before the deadline by which international sanctions against Iran could come back into force.

The process of reimposing them was initiated at the end of August by Britain, France, and Germany, citing violations of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The European powers are prepared to suspend the sanctions for up to six months if Tehran restores access for UN inspectors, clarifies the issue of enriched uranium stocks, and participates in negotiations with the US.

Pezeškian accused the E3 format of acting “on the orders of the United States.” In his speech, he called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “criminal” and criticized the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in June as a “betrayal of diplomacy.” He added that the enemies' attempts to destabilize Iranian society had failed.

(reuters, sab)