Iran’s top nuclear official, Mohammad Eslami, declared on Sunday that uranium enrichment is Tehran’s non-negotiable “red line” and essential to the nation’s nuclear industry.
In an interview with state-run IRIB TV, Eslami, who serves as the President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, responded to recent calls from the United States for Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities. He emphasized that uranium enrichment is a fundamental right of Iran and vital for the development of nuclear technology.
“Without uranium enrichment, there is no nuclear fuel cycle,” Eslami stated. “It impacts our research and applied activities across various sectors.”
Eslami criticized a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s nuclear activities, alleging that it was influenced by France, Germany, Britain, the United States, and Israel. Despite these concerns, he affirmed that Iran remains committed to its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
“Our nuclear activities have always been under the IAEA’s supervision,” Eslami said. “The agency has constant access to our facilities and monitors them regularly.”
The IAEA’s report, which was made public on Saturday, claimed that Iran had not fully explained the presence of nuclear material at three undeclared sites and continued to provide “less than satisfactory” cooperation.
The report emerged amid ongoing indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran, mediated by Oman. Since April, five rounds of discussions have taken place—three in Muscat and two in Rome—focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and the potential lifting of U.S. sanctions.
