Iran has reaffirmed it will not abandon uranium enrichment, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump for Tehran to adopt a “zero enrichment” policy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said enrichment is a sovereign and legal right tied to the country’s national interests, stating, “No one has the right to tell us what we should have and what we should not have,” and adding Iran would not give up the capability “even if war is imposed on us.”
Speaking at a foreign policy congress in Tehran, Araghchi said Iran remains open to addressing concerns about its nuclear programme through diplomacy. “If there are any questions or ambiguities regarding the peaceful objectives of Iran’s nuclear programme, we will respond and remove ambiguities, and the only way is through diplomacy,” he said.
He also claimed previous US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities failed to achieve strategic goals, saying, “Knowledge cannot be bombed away. Bombing can destroy buildings, but technology cannot be destroyed.”
The comments follow recent nuclear talks between the US and Iran in Oman, which Araghchi previously described as a “good beginning” focused solely on nuclear issues, while US officials have signalled interest in also addressing Iran’s ballistic missile programme and regional activities.
The Trump administration has repeatedly warned that military action remains an option if diplomatic efforts fail, while the US has increased naval and air deployments in the region. Iran has said it will not concede to external pressure amid the ongoing tensions.
#Watch | Iran has reaffirmed its stance on continuing uranium enrichment despite US military threats, emphasizing its right to pursue its nuclear program without external pressure.
Speaking in Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that no country has the authority to… pic.twitter.com/9y8GviVkV5
— DD India (@DDIndialive) February 8, 2026
