Iran’s Vice-President for Strategic Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has denied claims that Iran’s defense policy focuses on developing nuclear weapons. In an article, he argued that such narratives misrepresent Iran’s strategic goals, which prioritize sovereignty and regional stability. Zarif emphasized the principles of strategic self-reliance and long-term military innovation as central to Iran’s defense strategy. He attributed misconceptions about Iran’s intentions to global instability and violations of international norms, particularly by Israel. Zarif called for global accountability and urged analysts to concentrate on destabilizing actions by the Zionist regime, rather than mischaracterizing Iran’s defense posture.