WANA (May 19) – “Iran has oil, so it doesn’t need nuclear energy.” This is a statement Donald Trump, the President of the United States, expressed emphatically in his interview with Fox News—not for the first time, and certainly not for the last. But what logic lies behind this seemingly simple sentence? Does possessing fossil fuel resources mean renouncing the development of nuclear technology?

 

At first glance, this statement may sound convincing to an audience unfamiliar with the geography of energy; but once viewed through the light of statistics and scientific principles, a profound fallacy is exposed.

 

Oil, Nuclear Energy, and Ignoring the Facts

According to official statistics, Iran—with around 157 billion barrels of proven oil reserves—is the fourth most oil-rich country in the world. But these reserves will not remain underground forever. On the other hand, Iran’s daily oil production (3 to 4 million barrels), due to economic sanctions and infrastructural limitations, is not comparable to the United States’ 12 million barrels per day.

 

The more important point, however, goes beyond reserves or production capacity. Oil and gas are finite resources; meanwhile, the future of global energy is moving toward renewable and clean sources. In this direction, nuclear energy has regained its position as a sustainable, safe, and low-carbon solution.

 

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the development of nuclear energy over the next two decades will be one of the main strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So the question is: if Iran is not allowed to have peaceful nuclear energy, then why are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, France, India, and even Bangladesh allowed this right? Why are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—with even greater reserves—turning to American companies to build nuclear facilities?

 

The answer is simple: the future of energy is not oil. And everyone knows this—even Trump himself.

Iran’s National Nuclear Technology Day / WANA News Agency

Do Oil-Rich Countries Build Bombs? Or Is This Only Said About Iran?

Trump and other American officials have attempted to instill the notion that uranium enrichment equals building a nuclear weapon. But this statement is invalid under international law and is practically contradicted by dozens of other countries.

 

The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to this very claim, said: “If everyone who conducts enrichment is necessarily seeking a bomb, then all enrichment facilities in South Korea, Brazil, and many other countries must also be shut down. This is a deliberate fallacy made in bad faith to mislead public opinion.”

 

From a legal perspective, Iran is a member of the NPT treaty and, according to it, like all members, has the right to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency has also repeatedly emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting Iran’s nuclear program is military in nature.

 

Dr. Araghchi, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, also stated clearly: “Whether there is an agreement or not, uranium enrichment in Iran will continue.”

 

Deal or No Deal, Iran’s Enrichment Program Will Continue

WANA (May 19) – The Iranian Foreign Minister has declared that its uranium enrichment activities will persist with or without a new agreement, underscoring its commitment to its nuclear program amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.   Iranian Foreign Minister and chief negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, addressed recent contradictory statements made by U.S. officials regarding nuclear negotiations. In […]

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When Technology, Economy, and Health Intertwine

Perhaps the most important dimension that gets lost in political debates about nuclear energy is its real-world applications in the daily lives of people. The Bushehr power plant, which for years was the target of sanctions and pressure, is now capable of supplying the equivalent of 31% of Tehran’s electricity consumption. In simpler terms, a single power plant has replaced the use of 110 million barrels of oil.

 

But the issue is not merely about savings. As political analyst Komeil Khoshjasteh says, “The world has moved toward nuclear energy; even tech giants like Google and Amazon have turned to it for clean and sustainable electricity. Nuclear energy is no longer a national issue; it’s a global one.”

 

And yes, even artificial intelligence requires clean, sustainable, and large-scale energy for heavy data processing. So, is it logical for a country that seeks to develop such technologies to be deprived of a powerful source like nuclear energy?

 

Dr. Majid Shahriari, the Iranian nuclear scientist who was assassinated for his efforts to supply fuel for the Tehran research reactor and to produce radiopharmaceuticals, is a symbol of this often-overlooked aspect of nuclear energy in Iran. Today, hundreds of thousands of Iranians benefit from his efforts in the field of radioisotope medicine.

A Fallacy Called “You Have Oil, So You Don’t Need Nuclear Energy”

Emad Abshenas, political expert and analyst, says: “With populist oversimplification, Trump tries to reduce nuclear energy to just electricity or nuclear bombs, while eliminating 99.99% of its applications. This is the classic fallacy that misleads many.”

 

The United States, with 12 million barrels of oil production per day, itself has dozens of nuclear reactors. Saudi Arabia, which has “oil for 500 years,” is constructing nuclear facilities in cooperation with the U.S. So why not Iran?

 

The discussion about Iran’s nuclear program is no longer merely a technological or even political issue; it has become one of the pillars of national identity, economic foresight, and energy sovereignty. In a world where politics is intertwined with media and power advances through narrative, the more important question is: who holds the dominant narrative? And how well is the global audience informed of the facts?

 

Trump says Iran doesn’t need nuclear energy. But perhaps the world should ask itself: why should a country with such scientific potential and depleting resources give up its legitimate right?

 

Despite years of unprecedented sanctions, Iran has not only persevered but has achieved indigenous enrichment technology. As Iran’s President Pezeshkian emphasizes: “We will never give up our peaceful nuclear program. Threats and sanctions will not stop us from continuing on this path.”

 

This steadfastness is not merely a geopolitical choice; it is a response to a real and strategic need for a future beyond oil.