Cairo, Egypt – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that his country will not hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States or any other party. He described Western demands as “political blackmail.”
Pezeshkian’s statement came amid escalating Western threats to reimpose international sanctions by activating the “snapback mechanism.” This move could return the Iranian nuclear issue to square one.
Tehran: The nuclear program is a sovereign right
The Iranian president stressed that his country’s nuclear program is “entirely peaceful.” He affirmed that uranium enrichment is taking place within the framework permitted by international law. He added, “We will not compromise our scientific and technological rights under any pressure.”
Threat of international sanctions
Western countries, led by the United States, Britain, and France, are threatening to activate the “snapback mechanism” stipulated in the 2015 nuclear agreement. This would lead to the return of all UN sanctions lifted on Iran after the agreement was signed.
Washington says Tehran is stockpiling large quantities of enriched uranium close to military-grade levels. Iran denies this and asserts that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is aware of all its activities.
Escalation exacerbates regional tensions
Observers believe the increasingly hardline stances between Tehran and Washington are further complicating the situation in the Middle East. This is especially true with the ongoing wars and regional crises. Consequently, this could push the Iranian nuclear issue back to the forefront of the international scene.
