Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on February 6 that Iran will not move toward building nuclear weapons as such “massacre of innocent people” is not compatible with the Islamic Republic’s doctrine, President.ir reported.

“We are not looking for nuclear weapons and the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] has explicitly prohibited that in a fatwa [religious decree],” he said in a meeting with foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations residing in Tehran on the occasion of the 46^th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Republic.

The remarks come following a recent memorandum signed by the United States’ President Donald Trump, which orders the restoration of a so-called maximum pressure campaign on Tehran to cut its revenues over nuclear accusations. During his previous term (2017-2021), Trump imposed the tough policy on Iran after quitting the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers. The agreement restricted Iran’s nuclear activity and imposed strict monitoring in return for the lifting of sanctions. Iran, however, has been exceeding those limits after the US withdrawal and reimposition of sanctions, raising concerns among western countries who argue the escalations lack any credible civilian justification.

"We want to have intimate relations with all your countries that are here and be able to share our experiences," Pezeshkian told the assembled diplomats. "Together we can preserve this world."

"So far, whenever they wanted, they have come and investigated it, and after that, they can come and check it 100 times, and we will never seek to build a nuclear weapon,” he reassured.

The president also said such accusations originate from Israel, “a country that has invaded all its neighbouring countries” throughout its history.

He disputed the narrative of Israeli self-defence, arguing that the conflict stems from Israel's displacement of Palestinians from their lands, leaving them no choice but to resist.

“Every free person will inevitably stand up and resist when their rights are violated,” he said. Pezeshkian underlined that Iran’s support for Palestinians is in line with its policy of defending the oppressed.

“If anyone wants to force others in any way, this peace will not be sustainable, and finally the time will come when those who have been oppressed will rise up against oppression.”

He also highlighted the deaths of thousands of innocent children and women in the Gaza war, lamenting the international community's silence and criticising accusations of Iranian involvement in regional instability.

“We are not aggressors and do not seek war and unrest … War is not in our interest in any way,” he stressed.

He expressed regret that despite the Islamic Republic's founding principles of peace, brotherhood, and friendship, global media unjustly portrays the country as a source of regional instability.

Pezeshkian finally addressed foreign diplomats and representatives, expressing Iran’s interest in fostering close relations and sharing experiences with all those countries and organisations.

He said Iran will continue its efforts to expand relations with the whole world, with the priority of neighbours.

“We have signed strategic agreements with Russia and China, and we are ready to have such agreements with all countries to cooperate on the basis of mutual respect and interests, establish peace and build a world free from war and bloodshed,” he said.