Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium but is ready to provide written assurances against nuclear weapons [1].
This position establishes a critical baseline for upcoming nuclear negotiations with the U.S. in Switzerland. The Iranian leadership is attempting to balance its demand for sovereign nuclear capabilities with the need to lower international tensions regarding the potential development of a nuclear bomb [2].
Speaking in Tehran on Sunday, Pezeshkian said that the country is open to providing formal guarantees to the international community [3]. This move aims to reassure the U.S. and other global powers that Iran's nuclear program remains dedicated to peaceful purposes [4].
"We will not relinquish our right to enrich uranium," Pezeshkian said [1].
Despite this firm stance on enrichment, the president indicated a willingness to compromise on the issue of weaponization. He said that Iran is prepared to put its commitment to a non-nuclear arsenal in writing to foster trust between the negotiating parties [3].
"We are ready to provide written assurances that we are not seeking a nuclear weapon," Pezeshkian said [3].
The president further clarified that while the right to enrich is non-negotiable, the intent to build a weapon is not part of the national strategy [5].
"Iran will not give up its enrichment rights, but we can guarantee we will not build a bomb," Pezeshkian said [5].
“We will not relinquish our right to enrich uranium.”
Pezeshkian's approach attempts to decouple the technical act of uranium enrichment from the intent to create a weapon. By offering written guarantees, Iran is leveraging a diplomatic olive branch to maintain its nuclear infrastructure while seeking relief from international pressure or sanctions. The success of the Switzerland talks will likely depend on whether the U.S. accepts these written assurances as a sufficient substitute for more intrusive monitoring or a total cessation of enrichment.
