Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that his country will not pursue nuclear weapons, citing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s religious decree banning weapons of mass destruction. Pezeshkian emphasized that this decree clearly means Tehran will not develop nuclear arms. His remarks were reported as Iran and the United States prepare for indirect negotiations in Geneva.

The report notes that Khamenei issued the religious ban on nuclear weapons in the early 2000s. Both sides are expected to focus on diplomatic solutions during the Geneva meeting, though Washington has recently imposed new sanctions on Iran and continues to expand its military presence in the Middle East. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said before the talks that a fair and balanced agreement is within reach, reiterating that Iran is not building nuclear weapons but will not give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Earlier, US Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of trying to restart its nuclear program following American strikes on Iranian facilities, warning that any attempt to rebuild nuclear arms would pose a problem for Washington.