Iran nuclear weapons: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday reiterated the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, stating that the Islamic Republic has no intention of building nuclear weaponry, but will not relinquish or compromise its right to enrich uranium for civilian use.
What did Pezeshkian say about Iran’s nuclear program?
“What the United States demands is that Iran not build an atomic bomb. This is nothing new, and we can also state in writing that we have no intention of building a bomb,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying as the US-Iran talks kicked off in Switzerland’s resort town of Bürgenstock on Sunday.
However, the Iranian president reiterated that Tehran “will not relinquish our right to enrichment, and the other side will have no choice but to accept this right”.
US-Iran talks kick off in Switzerland
Pezeshkian’s remarks come as Qatar’s Foreign Ministry announced the beginning of the talks between the United States and Iran with the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan in Switzerland.
In an official statement, the ministry expressed “its aspiration that these meetings will lead to the conclusion of a comprehensive and permanent agreement addressing all aspects covered in the Memorandum of Understanding”.
According to Qatar, specialised technical and expert groups have been formed to negotiate the terms of the final agreement, which will cover all aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding between Tehran and Washington.
“Additionally, follow-up groups have been established to oversee the implementation of the Memorandum, monitor progress achieved, and work toward the conclusion of the final agreement,” the statement said.
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian electronically signed the 14-point MoU on the night of June 17 at the Palace of Versailles in France, initiating a strict 60-day window for negotiators to iron out key operational disputes and restore long-term stability across West Asia and the find a permanent solution to end the military conflict between Iran and the US.
Iran, US negotiators arrive for peace talks
Earlier in the day, US Vice President JD Vance landed in Switzerland to join American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who were already on-site handling the framework’s technical dimensions.
Concurrently, the Iranian delegation has also positioned itself at the venue to lay out Tehran’s terms. According to Iranian state television, Tehran’s negotiating team is heavily weighted towards economic and financial leverage, comprising parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, alongside key officials from Iran’s central bank and oil ministry.
Israeli strikes in Lebanon threaten US-Iran talks
Meanwhile, Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaie, Iran’s Deputy of Communications and Information Dissemination of the President’s Office, raised concerns over Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire. “The continuation of the Zionist regime’s crimes in Lebanon will lead to the invalidation of the entire agreement,” he wrote on X.
Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Baghaei said Tehran will raise the violation of the initial peace deal with the US, Fars news agency reported.
Fars news agency quoted Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Baghaei, saying that Iran will raise the violation of the initial peace deal.
Israel has defied calls for restraint from Trump and top officials of his administration, and stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from areas it has occupied in Lebanon.
“There has never been, and there is currently no restriction on IDF soldiers in Lebanon from acting to eliminate threats… As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have made clear: Israel will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon,” Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
Trump, Vance chastise Israel for Lebanon attacks
Iran has warned that Israeli aggression in Lebanon will be considered a violation of its peace deal with the US, and that Tehran would not enter talks on a broader agreement with Washington unless the attacks on Lebanon comes to an end.
JD Vance, who has openly criticised Israeli actions in recent days, ignored a a reporter’s question about whether he had a message for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about military operations in Lebanon.
Additionally, Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed irritation over Israel’s actions in Lebanon, with Vance even saying that, “if I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world”.
First published on: Jun 21, 2026 07:13 PM IST
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