Raisi: Iran Will Never Produce Nuclear Weapons

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami explaining to President Ebrahim Raisi during their tour of the nuclear exhibition (Iranian atomic)
Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami explaining to President Ebrahim Raisi during their tour of the nuclear exhibition (Iranian atomic)
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Raisi: Iran Will Never Produce Nuclear Weapons

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami explaining to President Ebrahim Raisi during their tour of the nuclear exhibition (Iranian atomic)
Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami explaining to President Ebrahim Raisi during their tour of the nuclear exhibition (Iranian atomic)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asserted that Iran's nuclear program would never develop towards producing atomic weapons, amid international fears that Tehran will continue to enrich uranium by 60 percent.

He emphasized that some people in the world think that power is created by producing nuclear weapons.

Iran has often stated that "even though such capability exists in the country, according to the religious beliefs and the emphasis of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will never go towards the production of nuclear weapons."

Raisi called for the transfer of nuclear achievements to other industries.

"With the will of the country's scientists in converting knowledge into ability in the nuclear field, today millions of people have been saved from disease, which is one of the great honors of the country."

Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized that the West's claim about "the fear of nuclear weapons production in Iran" is a lie.

Khamenei recalled that the US intelligence community had acknowledged several times that there were no signs of Iran moving towards producing nuclear weapons.

The Leader clarified that producing weapons of mass destruction is against Islamic beliefs and practices.

"If this Islamic belief did not exist and If we had wanted to build nuclear weapons, we would have done so, and the enemies know that they could not have done anything to stop us," he added.

Khamenei said it was necessary to maintain communication and cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of the safeguards agreements.

"This has been my recommendation to various officials of the nuclear industry from the beginning," he said, adding: "Of course, do not go under the burden of anything more than the safeguards regulations."

Under the law, Tehran suspends IAEA inspections of nuclear sites and ramps up uranium enrichment if sanctions are not lifted.

Iran continues to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium by five percent, 20 percent, and 60 percent, bringing its total to more than 21 times the limit stipulated in the nuclear deal.

Earlier this month, France, Germany, and the UK (E3) gave a joint statement to the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran's implementation of its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA.

The E3 said in the statement that there was no substantial change in Iran's behavior.

"Over the reporting period, Iran has unabatedly continued escalating its nuclear program beyond civilian justification and has displayed the little will to implement the transparency commitments laid out in the Joint Statement agreed last March."

"Iran is, undoubtedly and unabatedly, on a path of significant nuclear escalation. Its activities are a clear threat to regional and global security."

Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive the agreement with six major powers reached a dead end in September amid exchanged accusations of making unreasonable demands.

The Iranian government is trying to intensify its trade cooperation with neighboring countries within the framework of a program that the Supreme Leader called for to nullify the effect of Western sanctions.



Islamabad Urges Tehran's Cooperation over the Killing of 8 Pakistani Nationals in Southeastern Iran

This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
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Islamabad Urges Tehran's Cooperation over the Killing of 8 Pakistani Nationals in Southeastern Iran

This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo)

Islamabad has sought Tehran's “full cooperation” over the killing of eight Pakistani nationals in restive southeastern Iran, officials said Monday.

The Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement the killing happened Saturday in Mehrestan County in Sistan and Baluchistan province, about 230 kilometers (142 miles) from the Pakistan-Iran border, urging a thorough investigation, The Associated Press said.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir, wrote on X that the eight were laborers and that Islamabad and Tehran were working on facilitating the repatriation of the bodies.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

The Baluch regions across Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced an insurgency by Baluch nationalists seeking independence for more than two decades.

In Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army, designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2019, often targets security forces and civilians.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday the killings and extended condolences to the Pakistani people and government.

“Iran will spare no effort in identifying the perpetrators and masterminds behind this atrocity and ensuring justice is duly served,” the ministry said in a statement.

Esmail Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the killing “an act of terrorism” and "a criminal act which is fundamentally incompatible with all Islamic principles and legal and humanitarian norms”.

HalVash, an advocacy group for the Baluch people of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, reported that unknown gunmen opened fire on eight Pakistani citizens who ran a family auto repair business in the city. This couldn’t be independently verified.