TEHRAN - Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated on Tuesday that Iran as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will not forego its right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, saying Tehran will not compromise on this right.

“This inherent right is non-negotiable,” he told the international conference on disarmament in Geneva.

Araghchi addressed the conference after holding a second round of nuclear talks with the American side in Geneva.

The foreign minister said the right to use nuclear technology for civilian uses is enshrined in the NPT, and Iran, as a signatory to this treaty, is not an exception. 

“Sustainable agreements can only be achieved through mutual and balanced commitments and respect for the legitimate rights of nations. The Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons explicitly recognizes the inalienable right of all member states to develop research, production, and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he stated, adding, “This inherent right is non-negotiable and legally binding. 

The Iranian chief diplomat said the right to nuclear technology “is not subject to political considerations and cannot be arbitrarily suspended or reinterpreted.

Any attempt to suggest that this right is revocable or optional fundamentally contradicts both the letter and the spirit of the Treaty.”
Iran has been insisting that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, and in line with this policy, it has been taking confidence-building measures over the last two decades.

“Iran has always pursued a strategy based on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while at the same time demonstrating its readiness to address any concerns regarding the nature of its nuclear program and to ensure its entirely peaceful character, the chief diplomat remarked. 

“On this basis, Iran entered into nuclear negotiations and has continued along this path to this day. A review of the course of these negotiations reveals many realities,” he pointed out.

Iran has been saying that nuclear weapons do not bring security for any country. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has banned the production, stockpiling and use of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear arms.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently stated that it neither seeks to produce nor to acquire nuclear weapons—weapons that have no place in Iran’s national security doctrine. This position is rooted in our defense policy and reinforced by clear religious considerations that prohibit weapons of mass destruction,” Araghchi stated.

“Intimidation will not help nuclear talks”

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is prepared to accept Iran's enriched uranium reserves as part of a potential agreement regarding Tehran's nuclear program. 

Speaking at a news briefing, Peskov also said it would be “premature” to evaluate the outcomes of U.S.-Iran negotiations, which include the issue of controlling enriched uranium stockpiles. 

"The initiative was in our hands. We have declared our readiness to accept the uranium. The remaining issues are a matter of discussion between the Iranians and the Americans," Operative Information Center-OMM quoted him as saying.

The spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry also said Washington’s threats against Iran will not help advance the nuclear talks. “Threats and blackmail will not help to advance nuclear talks with Iran,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, IRNA reported on Wednesday. 

She repeated Peskov’s remarks, saying that Russia is ready to receive Iran’s enriched uranium if an agreement is reached between Tehran and Washington. 
The spokeswoman also said it is difficult to predict the outcome of talks between Iran and the United States.