WANA (May 21) – Iran’s First Vice President, Mohammadreza Aref, stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not take orders regarding its scientific and technological development and will make maximum use of peaceful nuclear technology based on the country’s needs and capacities, emphasizing that nuclear weapons have no role in Iran’s defense strategy.

 

Speaking at the Cabinet meeting, the First Vice President said: The recent stance of American leaders regarding ‘zero enrichment’ in Iran is not the first time, and it certainly won’t be the last.

 

He added: If we were seeking zero enrichment on our soil, there would have been no need to endure the harsh and unjust U.S. sanctions over the past decades.

 

Aref noted: The statements of U.S. officials are contradictory, as they discuss enrichment-related matters during indirect negotiations, but outside the negotiating table, under the influence of media atmosphere, propaganda, or in an attempt to satisfy the Zionist regime, they make different remarks.

 

The First Vice President emphasized: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is following the same path outlined in the indirect negotiations, and the red line of the Islamic Republic is enrichment on Iranian soil. We are not pursuing nuclear weapons, but we will utilize the full potential of the country’s nuclear capabilities, like any other technology, for the purposes of development and progress.”

 

The first round of these indirect talks between Iran and the U.S., mediated by Oman, was held on April 12 in Muscat, and the second round of talks took place in Rome on Saturday, April 19, again with Oman as the intermediary.

 

The third round of talks, which took place on Saturday, April 26, was also in Oman. Iran and the United States concluded their fourth round of indirect negotiations in Muscat on Sunday, May 11.