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'Nothing to Hide': Zarif Says Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons

© AP Photo / Ebrahim Norooziveiled Iranian woman walks past a mural depicting the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, and national Iranian flag, painted on the wall of the former U.S. Embassy, in Tehran, Iran
veiled Iranian woman walks past a mural depicting the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, and national Iranian flag, painted on the wall of the former U.S. Embassy, in Tehran, Iran - Sputnik International, 1920, 21.02.2021
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The United States previously noted that Tehran must return to compliance with the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal before Washington can return to the agreement and has urged the Islamic Republic to reduce its uranium enrichment activities.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated on Sunday that his country is not trying to create nuclear weapons. He also noted that Tehran's steps on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), taken after the US withdrawal, are reversible.

"All our steps (to breach the deal) are reversible...The United States must return to the deal and lift all sanctions ... The United States is addicted to sanctions but they should know that Iran will not yield to pressure", Zarif said.

At the same time, the minister stressed that talks between Tehran and Washington are only possible if all sides fulfill their obligations under the accord, accusing President Joe Biden of maintaining the previous administration's "maximum pressure" policy against Iran.

"Nothing has changed. Biden claims that Trump's policy of maximum pressure was maximum failure... But for all practical purposes, they are pursuing the same policy", he said. “Therefore, with Iran pressure does not work, and 'maximum pressure', in their own words, has led to 'maximum failure'".
© AFP 2023 / ATTA KENAREA general view shows the reactor building at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 1200 kms south of Tehran, on August 20, 2010
'Nothing to Hide': Zarif Says Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons - Sputnik International, 1920, 21.02.2021
A general view shows the reactor building at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, 1200 kms south of Tehran, on August 20, 2010

The statement by the top Iranian diplomat comes just a day after the talks between Ali Akbar Salehi, chief of Iran's nuclear department and Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency over the halt of IAEA inspections at Iranian nuclear facilities.

"Mr Grossi, the director-general of the IAEA, requested to come here so that we could have a smooth transition", Zarif said, addressing the talks. "We have nothing to hide. Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons. The decision is based on sound geopolitical facts and religious and moral grounds… and that decision stands without any ifs or buts", the minister noted.

In 2015, Iran signed the JCPOA with the P5+1 group and the EU. The accord stipulated that Iran curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, including lifting the arms embargo five years after the deal's adoption. However, the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reinstated sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The move forced Iran to gradually suspend its obligations under the accord, boosting its nuclear programme.

© Russian Foreign Ministry / Go to the mediabankIranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
'Nothing to Hide': Zarif Says Iran Not Seeking Nuclear Weapons - Sputnik International, 1920, 21.02.2021
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif

In December, Iran escalated its research following the assassination of nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The country's parliament adopted a new law, suggesting to increase its uranium enrichment and stop UN inspections of its nuclear facilities.

As a result, in early January, Iran's atomic energy organisation announced that the country had succeeded in enriching uranium to 20 percent at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant.

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