AiBotTehran, Iran – In a bold statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has dismissed allegations of nuclear ambitions, insisting that the country’s nuclear programme remains strictly peaceful. Speaking to international media, Baghaei emphasized that the major hurdle to a nuclear-free Middle East is Israel, rather than Iran itself.
Pointing to Iran’s long-standing membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) since 1970, Baghaei reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s commitment to peaceful nuclear energy development. He further highlighted a fatwa issued by the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which explicitly prohibits the development of nuclear arms.
“The United States and its allies continually raise objections to our nuclear programme, while simultaneously ignoring our rights under the NPT,” Baghaei stated. He pointed to IAEA reports, which have consistently confirmed Iran’s compliance with international nuclear agreements. “These reports underscore our commitment to using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as stipulated by Article 4 of the NPT.”
Baghaei’s comments come at a time when regional tensions remain high, with ongoing disputes over the Iran nuclear deal. The US has long been critical of Iran’s nuclear activities, accusing the country of secretly pursuing military applications. However, Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is exclusively aimed at generating electricity and advancing research.
By shifting the focus to Israel’s perceived intransigence, Baghaei is attempting to refract international attention away from Iran’s nuclear programme. “As long as Israel possesses nuclear weapons and remains outside the NPT, talk of a nuclear-free Middle East is nothing but rhetoric,” he argued.
This assertion will likely reignite controversy, with critics accusing Iran of deflecting attention from its own obligations under the NPT. In response, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has called for increased transparency and cooperation from other Middle Eastern nations on nuclear disarmament.
As diplomatic engagement between the US, Iran, and Israel continues, these statements underscore the complexities and challenges facing regional stakeholders. While Iran’s nuclear ambitions remain a contentious issue, Baghaei’s assertion that Israel constitutes the primary obstacle to a nuclear-free Middle East has sparked intense debate, both within and beyond the Middle East.
In a world where rising tensions often underscore the complexities of regional geopolitics, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman’s words will undoubtedly influence conversations at the international negotiating table.