Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied his country was pursuing nuclear weapons as the United States continues to build up its military forces in the region.
In a post on X, Araghchi said Iran’s military was prepared, “with their fingers on the trigger,” to respond to any military action against the country.
“The valuable lessons learned from the 12-Day War have enabled us to respond even more strongly, rapidly, and profoundly,” he added.
Responding to President Donald Trump’s demand for Iran to abandon its ambitions for nuclear weapons, Araghchi insisted that Tehran had no such ambitions.
“At the same time, Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL—on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation—which ensures Iran’s rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” he said. “Such weapons have no place in our security calculations and we have NEVER sought to acquire them.”
Araghchi has in the past repeatedly referenced Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s fatwa against nuclear weapons, put forward in 2003, effectively banning the development and use of nuclear weapons. Analysts are split on the applicability of the fatwa, with some viewing it as a genuine position born out of the traumatic experience of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, while others believe it’s a disingenuous ruse meant to lull foreign observers into complicity.
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Tehran finds itself in its most vulnerable position since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Its economy is in free fall, its proxy network is in shambles, and it has further isolated itself internationally after killing up to tens of thousands of peaceful protesters. Trump has continued to deploy extensive military assets to the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which arrived off the coast of Iran this week.
Open source intelligence analysts have noted military movements in the region that might suggest an imminent strike against Iran. Trump previously pledged to strike Iran if its security forces opened fire on protesters.