Iran has reaffirmed its opposition to developing nuclear weapons, invoking a religious decree issued by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei Khoshrood emphasized that nuclear arms have no place in the country’s defense strategy, despite calls from some Iranian lawmakers to pursue them as leverage in talks with the West.
“Iran will never, under any circumstances, pursue the path of nuclear weapons,” said Khoshrood, citing a 2003 fatwa (religious edict) by Ayatollah Khamenei banning the development of such weapons. “This position is central to our strategic doctrine. There should be no doubt about it.”
The comments come in response to Iranian MP Mohammad Ghasem Osmani, who recently suggested Iran should acquire nuclear weapons to gain equal footing in negotiations with the United States and its allies. Western nations, particularly the U.S., have long accused Iran of seeking to build a nuclear arsenal—allegations Tehran consistently denies, maintaining that its uranium enrichment program serves peaceful, civilian purposes.
Tensions escalated last month when former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with military strikes unless it agreed to reopen nuclear talks with Washington. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the idea of direct negotiations with the U.S. as “senseless,” while Russia voiced concern over the rhetoric coming from Washington.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated Monday that Russia is willing to help defuse the conflict through political and diplomatic channels. “Russia is ready to do everything in its power to help resolve this situation peacefully,” he said, adding that talks with Iran on the 2015 nuclear agreement are ongoing.
Russia has strengthened its ties with Iran since the start of the war in Ukraine, culminating in a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed in January by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian. The Russian Foreign Ministry also announced that experts from Russia, China, and Iran will meet in Moscow on April 8 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.
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