By Obinna Uballa
Iran has reiterated that it will not pursue nuclear weapons, citing a long-standing religious decree by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as tensions persist with the United States ahead of a new round of nuclear negotiations, Iran’s state media reported.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Iran’s position remains anchored in a fatwa issued by Khamenei in the early 2000s prohibiting the development and use of nuclear weapons.
“Iran will not develop nuclear weapons because the Supreme Leader has banned them,” Pezeshkian said, stressing that “the religious leader of a society cannot lie like politicians.”
“When he announces that we will not have a nuclear weapon, it means we won’t have it,” he added, ahead of a third round of indirect nuclear talks with the United States, which continues to accuse Tehran of seeking to acquire such weapons capability.
The renewed assurances come amid heightened scrutiny from United States and growing political pressure linked to President Donald Trump, under whose administration the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reinstated sweeping sanctions on Iran.
Diplomatic efforts are now being facilitated by Oman. According to Oman’s foreign ministry, Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi met with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Wednesday evening ahead of indirect discussions between Tehran and Washington.
The two sides reviewed recent developments and discussed proposals Iran intends to table in pursuit of an agreement on its nuclear programme. The proposals are said to be based on guiding principles established during the previous round of talks.
Albusaidi is expected to meet with the US negotiating team to relay Iran’s views and gather Washington’s responses, as Muscat continues its diplomatic role as intermediary. Oman’s foreign ministry said it remains committed to facilitating dialogue aimed at achieving a sustainable and peaceful resolution.
Meanwhile, rhetoric in the United States has intensified. Democratic Representative Greg Landsman of Ohio said on Wednesday that targeted military action may be necessary if diplomacy fails.
“If targeted, defensive strikes are necessary, and these strikes are successful, the prospect of war and further violence is diminished,” Landsman was quoted as saying. “That’s what we should all want: an end to decades of bloodshed and mayhem by this regime. We should continue to work to weaken the regime’s ability to do harm.”
He suggested that defensive operations against ballistic missile systems, rocket infrastructure, weapons depots and nuclear facilities could be considered to protect lives and deter escalation.
