Araghchi: Iran will not yield to forceful denial of its right to enrichment

On Saturday, May 31, 2025, Araghchi, along with his deputies and ministry staff, renewed their commitment to the lofty ideals of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Imam Khomeini, on the eve of his passing anniversary. 

Speaking at the ceremony, he described Imam Khomeini as the architect of both the Islamic Republic and its foreign policy, stating, “Imam Khomeini, as the architect of the Islamic Revolution, also shaped the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic and its revolution.”

Araghchi noted that Iran’s current foreign policy, 45 years after the Islamic Revolution, is rooted in the framework established by Imam Khomeini, with the rejection of foreign domination as its core principle. 

He highlighted that one of the main pillars of Imam Khomeini’s movement was the rejection of foreign control, starting with opposition to capitulation. This principle became a foundation of the Islamic Revolution, with the policy of “neither East nor West” signifying the rejection of domination, not the rejection of relations with East or West.

Regarding uranium enrichment, Araghchi stressed its importance as a national necessity and tied it to the principle of rejecting domination. “No one in Iran will accept the forceful denial of our right to enrichment,” he declared, adding that this right has been a guiding principle in all nuclear negotiations. 

He rejected the notion that Iran should forgo enrichment due to external concerns, calling it an unacceptable form of foreign domination.Araghchi clarified that nuclear weapons are rejected by Iran, noting, “We have been and remain at the forefront of opposing nuclear weapons.” 

He pointed out that while Iran shares the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, other parties committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have failed to honor their obligations to disarm, instead acting contrary to them.

He concluded by asserting that no one has the right to deprive the Iranian people and future generations of their internationally recognized right to nuclear energy due to mere concerns. “Nuclear energy is the undeniable right of the Iranian people,” Araghchi affirmed.