Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian flatly denied Thursday that Tehran wants a nuclear bomb while claiming Iran is willing to submit its nuclear program for international inspection, blaming Washington for the nearly seven-month war in the Middle East and accusing it of blocking diplomacy.
Axar.az reports that asked point-blank during an exclusive interview on Fox News’ "Special Repоrt," "Do you want a nuclear bomb or not?" Pezeshkian firmly rejected the premise.
"Not at all. Not at all. Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal," he told Bret Baier, referencing religious edicts issued against weapons of mass destruction.
The Iranian leader's public denial came amid long-term international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and its enrichment of uranium to levels well beyond those typically used for civilian nuclear power.
Pezeshkian also pointed to the failed memorandum of understanding, or MOU, signed by him and President Donald Trump in June intended to halt hostilities and establish a framework for a broader U.S.-Iran agreement.
The process was intended by Washington to lead to an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and included a 60-day process toward that final agreement.
Pezeshkian then criticized Washington for the subsequent breakdown in diplomacy but insisted Tehran remains prepared to reach an agreement.
"The problem is that America, instead of conducting dialog, they descend into the arena by bombing us first, by blocking every pathway. We are ready," he said.