Iranian president rejects nuclear bomb claims and offers uranium dilution

During a rare interview, President Masoud Pezeshkian categorically rejected accusations that Iran seeks a nuclear weapon, referencing a religious decree that deems such a pursuit illegal. He stated that Iran is prepared to dilute its 60% enriched uranium and allow external verification of the process. The interview followed a renewed U.S. and Israeli offensive that hit nuclear and military sites, resulting in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.

Pezeshkian criticized the United States for bypassing negotiations and initiating attacks, calling the approach unacceptable on the world stage. He noted that earlier statements from the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization’s chief, Mohammad Eslami, indicated dilution could proceed if sanctions were lifted. These remarks arrive as indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington continue, seeking a diplomatic path after recent hostilities.