WANA (May 31) – “Halting uranium enrichment is not something the Iranian people will accept,” said Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, firmly rejecting what he described as foreign attempts to impose restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

 

In a strong statement on Saturday morning during a ceremony marking the 36th anniversary of Imam Khomeini’s passing, Araghchi underscored Iran’s unwavering stance on its nuclear rights, emphasizing that resistance to foreign domination is a core pillar of the country’s negotiating position.

 

“One of the guiding principles behind our nuclear policy—and the foundation of our negotiations—is the rejection of domination,” he added. “This has always been the framework of our diplomacy.”

 

Independence at the Core of Iran’s Foreign Policy

Araghchi clarified that Iran’s “neither East nor West” foreign policy doctrine is rooted in this same principle: “Our emphasis on independence is grounded in this ideology. Rejecting domination does not mean rejecting relations with the West or the East.”

 

He reiterated that Iran’s position in both past and present nuclear negotiations has consistently been based on this framework.

Iran Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facade written: “Neither East, nor West — the Islamic Republic”/Social media / WANA News Agency

Peaceful Nuclear Energy: A Non-Negotiable Right

The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized that access to peaceful nuclear technology is a fundamental and non-negotiable right of the Iranian people: “Just as other national entitlements are important, so is the right to peaceful nuclear energy. Our position on this issue is absolutely clear.”

 

Araghchi rejected the argument,  frequently made by Western negotiating parties, that Iran should not be allowed to enrich uranium: “To say that Iran must forgo enrichment is a form of imposition. They cannot enforce their will on the Iranian people through coercion. This is not something our nation will submit to.”

 

Firm Rejection of Nuclear Weapons

While reiterating Iran’s rejection of nuclear weapons, Araghchi also pointed to the hypocrisy of some other countries: “We share common ground with others in rejecting nuclear arms. But some of them have failed to uphold their commitments and have even acted in violation of them.”

 

He warned that unfounded concerns by other countries do not justify stripping Iranians of their rightful access to peaceful nuclear energy: “Mere worry is not a license to deprive our people or future generations of their rights.”

 

Ceremony at Imam Khomeini’s Mausoleum

These remarks were delivered during a Saturday morning commemorative ceremony at the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini. The event was attended by Foreign Minister Araghchi, Seyed Hassan Khomeini, and senior officials from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The gathering served as a reaffirmation of their commitment to the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.

Iranian officials in the mausoleum of the late Imam Khomeini. Social media/ WANA News Agency