Iran Stands Firm: Foreign Minister Araqchi Affirms Nation’s Right to Peaceful Nuclear Technology

In a recent statement, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi underscored Iran’s commitment to developing its peaceful nuclear technology. This declaration comes just before the fifth round of nuclear negotiations with the United States set to take place in Rome.

Araqchi spoke to national Iranian television on Thursday night, emphasizing that Iran will firmly uphold its nuclear rights. He stated, “We will not retreat from our rights. Our nuclear program—including enrichment—must continue. However, we are ready to adopt confidence-building and transparency measures and accept broader monitoring, because we are confident in the peaceful nature of our program.”

Key points from Araqchi’s remarks include:

• Right to Nuclear Development: Iran will not back down from its nuclear rights.
• Confidence-Building Measures: The country is open to transparency and broader monitoring of its nuclear activities.
• European Involvement: Araqchi criticized European nations for threatening to trigger the snapback mechanism of the 2015 nuclear deal, asserting they have no role in the current indirect negotiations.
• Potential Consequences: He warned that triggering the snapback mechanism could jeopardize the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Araqchi further advised European countries to reconsider their approach, stating, “If Europe wants to play a role, it must abandon its hostile and confrontational policies toward Iran.” He mentioned that he and his team are preparing to travel to Italy for the upcoming talks and expressed hope that the other side would be willing to revise its positions.

He added, “We will continue diplomacy as long as the Americans come along with us and accept our positions.” In a significant move, Araqchi revealed that he had sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General regarding Israeli threats against Iranian nuclear facilities. He declared, “I made it clear that we are ready for a decisive response and that if the threats continue, we will be forced to make special arrangements to protect our facilities and materials. They must know what we mean by the special arrangements.”