Amid Rising Tensions With Israel, Iran’s President Reiterates: ‘Tehran Has No Intention to Pursue Nuclear Weapons’

Iran Reaffirms Peaceful Nuclear Intentions Amid Escalating Tensions With Israel.

Amid the ongoing conflict with Israel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday reiterated that Tehran has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. Addressing the Iranian parliament, Pezeshkian stressed that Iran will continue to assert its right to nuclear energy and research, in accordance with international agreements.

He cited Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s long-standing religious decree, which explicitly forbids the production and use of weapons of mass destruction. “They say Iran should not obtain nuclear weapons, while we have no such intention,” the president said, indirectly referencing accusations by Israel and Western nations, according to Reuters.

Tehran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is strictly for civilian use.

Tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been a long-standing point of contention, particularly since former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018. While talks to revive the agreement have taken place over the past year, the latest round—scheduled for Sunday—was canceled due to the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and Israel.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that the country’s parliament is currently drafting a bill to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), although he emphasized that Iran still opposes the development of nuclear weapons.

Escalating Conflict
The region remains on edge as hostilities between Israel and Iran enter a fourth day. On Monday, Iran launched another wave of missile strikes on Israeli cities, triggering widespread air raid sirens. Emergency officials confirmed at least three casualties, with dozens more injured.

Iran claimed responsibility for launching over 100 missiles in response to Israel’s surprise attacks on Friday, which targeted critical military and nuclear infrastructure inside Iran. Those strikes reportedly killed several senior military officials and nuclear scientists.

The Iranian government accused Israel of targeting civilian areas and claimed that the head of intelligence for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was among the dead. The total death toll from the Israeli campaign has reportedly risen to at least 224.

As both nations continue to trade heavy blows, the conflict threatens to spiral into a wider regional war, drawing international concern over its potential to destabilize the already volatile Middle East.