Tehran:Iran has declared it will not relinquish its right to enrich uranium nor hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium, as stated by Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency, Eslami told reporters that uranium enrichment is an essential component of the nuclear process. He emphasized that Tehran would not abandon this activity under any conditions, questioning how a nuclear industry could exist without starting with the enrichment process.
Eslami further explained that the nuclear industry is crucial for scientific and technological progress, reaffirming Iran's commitment to its right to technological advancement. He dismissed the idea of transferring Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, stating firmly that it is not an option.
Regarding international oversight, Eslami mentioned that cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is restricted due to security concerns following US-Israeli attacks on nuclear facilities. He noted that inspections of damaged sites remain impossible until security is assured.
While IAEA inspectors have been allowed to visit facilities unaffected by these attacks, Eslami criticized the agency for not acknowledging these inspections, accusing it of succumbing to US and Israeli pressure.
These comments come amid ongoing disputes between Tehran and the IAEA over access to nuclear sites impacted by US-Israeli strikes. Iranian legislation passed in June 2025 limits cooperation with the IAEA, allowing inspections only with security guarantees and approval from Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Significant nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan were targeted during the June 2025 conflict, with further attacks on Natanz occurring in March 2026. Despite a resolution from the IAEA Board of Governors urging Tehran to disclose information about its enriched uranium stockpiles, the agency reports it still cannot verify the status due to restricted access.
Iran continues to assert that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and insists that uranium enrichment is a legitimate right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.