The late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has never wavered on the nuclear issue, always saying that Tehran cannot build nuclear weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech on the occasion of Nowruz (Iranian New Year).
Every time we meet the Revolutionary Leader, he emphasizes that nuclear weapons are banned for religious reasons" - SNN television quoted President Masoud Pezeshkian as saying. He also added that no official in Iran can move towards developing weapons of mass destruction.
However, according to President Masoud Pezeshkian, "the US is trying to make the world believe that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons".
In a congratulatory message on the occasion of Nowruz, with Iran's New Year's Day falling on March 21, President Pezeshkian also affirmed: "We have no intention of causing disagreements with Islamic countries. We are not seeking conflict and war with Islamic countries. They are our brothers".
Mr. Pezeshkian said that Iran is ready to resolve all issues with neighboring countries, proposing the establishment of a security structure including Islamic countries in the Middle East to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.
We do not need the presence of foreigners in the region. We can establish an Islamic council in the Middle East with the cooperation of Islamic countries, and within that framework, adjust our security, economic, cultural and political relations" - the Iranian leader proposed.
The New Year's speech by the Iranian leader was the latest time Iran mentioned nuclear weapons. A few days earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet announced his views on possessing nuclear weapons.
Iran's nuclear doctrine is always peaceful and we always seek to exercise our right to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized.
The top Iranian diplomat also mentioned the religious decree (fatwa) of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which prohibits the development of nuclear weapons.
A fatwa, as you know, depends on the issuer. I cannot yet assess the legal or political stance of the new leader on this issue. As far as I know, that stance may not be much different from the previous policy, but we need to wait until his views are clarified," the Iranian Foreign Minister added.
Iran has repeatedly affirmed that it does not pursue nuclear weapons. Mr. Ali Khamenei's decree banning the development of nuclear weapons took effect in 2003.
