President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Iran’s opposition to nuclear weapons, emphasizing that the stance is grounded in “theological beliefs” and a binding religious decree issued by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
“When the religious leader explicitly states that we will not pursue nuclear weapons, this is a position rooted in theological and jurisprudential beliefs, not a political tactic that can be changed,” Pezeshkian said Thursday during a visit to the northern province of Mazandaran. He highlighted the fatwa, or religious edict, issued by Ayatollah Khamenei forbidding nuclear arms.
“A politician may speak based on expediency, but a religious leader cannot speak against beliefs and a religious ruling,” the president added.
Remarks Coincide with Geneva Talks
Pezeshkian’s statements came on the same day Iran and the United States were engaged in the third round of Oman-mediated nuclear negotiations in Geneva. The two sides previously held indirect talks on February 6 and 17 amid heightened tensions caused by US military threats against Iran and an American military buildup in the region.
President Responds to Trump’s Claims
During his State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday, US President Donald Trump claimed that last year’s “illegal Israeli-US aggression” had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, while alleging Tehran is restarting its “sinister” nuclear ambitions.
Trump also addressed recent foreign-backed riots in Iran—which he had openly supported—claiming at least 32,000 people had been killed.
Pezeshkian pushed back against the figure: “We have announced the death toll and even provided the national ID numbers of the people killed; anyone who says it’s more than this should corroborate the claim with evidence.”
According to Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, 3,117 people lost their lives during the unrest, with 2,427 of those killed being innocent civilians and security personnel. The president noted that 300 to 400 of the martyrs were military personnel defending the country’s security.
Distinguishing Protest from Violence
The president asserted that enemies sought “regime change” during the riots, emphasizing that those who set mosques on fire and killed security forces cannot be considered legitimate protesters.
“We recognize protests and consider ourselves obliged to serve our people in the face of shortcomings and deficiencies,” Pezeshkian said. “We are deeply saddened from the bottom of our hearts by what has happened to our beloved people. The Leader stated that we are grieving for the people, but a distinction must be made between a peaceful protest and a violent action.”
Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has been a victim of terrorism over the past decades. He accused enemies of attempting to deprive the country of its human resources by eliminating capable individuals, aiming to portray authorities as ineffective in addressing national challenges.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)