Iran’s nuclear chief has dismissed calls to restrict the country’s uranium enrichment programme as a “pipe dream,” reaffirming Tehran’s stance amid a newly announced ceasefire involving the United States and Israel.
President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami made the remarks on Thursday while speaking to reporters in Tehran, according to local media.
Eslami said no law or external pressure could halt Iran’s nuclear progress, adding that demands to abandon uranium enrichment were “nonsensical.” He claimed that years of hostile actions against Iran, including the recent war, had failed to achieve their objectives.
He further argued that calls for limitations through negotiations were aimed at “consoling” Iran’s adversaries, asserting that their push for a ceasefire reflected a position of weakness.
His comments come after a two-week ceasefire was announced earlier this week between Iran, the United States and Israel to allow room for diplomatic efforts following weeks of escalating tensions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that Iran would not be allowed to enrich uranium, adding that Washington would work to remove what he described as deeply buried nuclear materials.
Iranian officials, however, have repeatedly maintained that uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes is a sovereign right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The latest exchange highlights persistent disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme, even as diplomatic efforts resume under the temporary truce.