Iran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons ahead of US talks

President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian has again assured that Tehran has no ambition to develop nuclear weapons. He referred to a religious decree – a fatwa – issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who banned weapons of mass destruction at the beginning of the 21st century.

According to Pezeshkian, this ban ‘clearly means’ that Iran will not seek to acquire a nuclear arsenal.

The statement came shortly before the third round of nuclear talks with the United States, which Tehran has long accused of suspecting it of seeking to acquire an atomic bomb.

Khamenei has the final say on nuclear programme issues, giving his fatwa considerable weight. At the same time, Washington remains distrustful, insisting that Iran’s activities extend beyond the civilian use of nuclear energy.

(reuters, pir)