“We anticipate that you will clarify to them, in your interactions with the United States, that the Islamic Republic of Iran is merely striving to uphold its rightful claims,” Pezeshkian stated during a telephone conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed.
On Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran is not in pursuit of nuclear weapons but will persist in defending its “legitimate rights,” as a tenuous ceasefire between Iran and Israel was established following 12 days of conflict.
Pezeshkian was quoted by the IRNA news agency during a phone conversation with United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, expressing, “We expect you to clarify to them, in your interactions with the United States, that the Islamic Republic of Iran is solely aiming to assert its legitimate rights.”
He further remarked that Israel and the US “cannot impose unjust aspirations through force.”
Pezeshkian emphasized, “The Islamic Republic of Iran was compelled into military conflict for self-defense, and I hope we will never be compelled to engage in combat again.”
He reiterated, as reported by the official IRNA news agency, that Iran has “never sought to acquire nuclear weapons and does not pursue them,” adding that Iran is “prepared to address the issues… at the negotiating table.”
The conflict between Israel and Iran, two long-standing regional rivals, intensified with Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, resulting in the deaths of several nuclear scientists and high-ranking military officials.
On Sunday, Israel’s close ally, the United States, executed its own unprecedented strikes on significant Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz.
The hostilities broke out just two days prior to the scheduled resumption of talks between Iran and the U.S. regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.
At the heart of the disagreement lies Iran’s uranium enrichment — a process that Tehran claims is a “non-negotiable” right, while Washington has designated it a “red line.”
With contributions from various agencies.
