All countries entitled to peaceful nuclear technology: Iran’s nuclear chief

Iran’s nuclear chief has said all countries are entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and Iran is bent on doing so despite the pressures and hostilities from certain world powers.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami said that acquiring nuclear technology is a legitimate source of power for any country.

Eslami argued that all countries, including Iran, are entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and that Iran intends to use that right.

However, certain powers have abused their veto right at the UN Security Council to prevent Iran from developing its peaceful nuclear program, he said.

According to Eslami, numerous allegations have been leveled against the Islamic Republic over the years and its nuclear dossier has been sent to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council.

Resolutions and sanctions have been slapped against Iran as a result, he added.

The Iranian nuclear chief also noted that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has in the past 25 years stressed the importance of developing nuclear technology.  

He added that the AEOI has adopted a comprehensive strategic document and taken major steps to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Ayatollah Khamenei said in February that enemies are seeking to deprive Iranians of peaceful nuclear energy, stressing once again that the Islamic Republic has never sought nuclear weapons.

Enemies seek to deprive Iranians of peaceful nuclear energy: Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Khamenei says enemies seek to deprive Iranians of peaceful nuclear energy, reiterating that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons.

“They know we are not seeking that; that we are not looking for a nuclear weapon. We are looking to benefit from nuclear energy in peaceful ways. They know this. [But] They do not want the Iranian nation to achieve such outstanding scientific progress and that’s why they are pressuring us,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated.

Eslami’s remarks came a few hours before Iran provided the European Union with its final conclusion on high-profile negotiations in Vienna aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Amir-Abdollahian: Iran will offer its final conclusion on EU’s plan to revive JCPOA by Monday midnight

The Iranian foreign minister says Tehran will provide the European Union with its latest conclusion on the EU coordinator

After responding to the EU’s text, Iran said late on Monday that it is now the US’s turn to show realism and flexibility if it really wants a final agreement to be reached.

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said if the US shows a realistic and flexible reaction to Iran’s offer, “we would be at the point of agreement,” adding, “The American side has orally agreed to two proposals offered by Iran.”

Former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the JCPOA in 2018 and reinstated the sanctions that the deal had lifted and added new ones.

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