Iranian President Challenges Trump: Termination Of Nuclear Program Is Just Illusion

JAKARTA - Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said efforts by the United States and Israel to halt Tehran's nuclear program were futile, calling the idea of ending it an "illution".

Pezeshkian also vowed Iran would continue enrichment of uranium in accordance with international legal frameworks, the Tasnim semi-official news agency reported on Wednesday.

"These efforts are based on illusions," said Pezeshkian in an interview with Al Jazeera Qatar as reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, July 23.

He referred to statements by US officials, including former President Donald Trump, who stated Iran's nuclear infrastructure had been neutralized.

Our nuclear capability lies in the minds of our scientists, not in the facilities, said Pezeshkian.

Pezeshkian also reiterated Iran's old position, its country has no intention of owning nuclear weapons, citing political, religious and strategic commitments.

"We firmly reject the possession of nuclear weapons. This is our position in a political, religious, humanitarian and strategic manner," he said.

The Iranian president said Tehran remained open to diplomatic engagement but stressed that every negotiation must recognize Iran's right to enrich uranium for civilian use.

"Every negotiation in the future must be based on mutually beneficial logic," he said.

He also issued a stern warning against Israel saying Iran was ready to respond decisively to any attacks in the future.

"We are fully prepared to face any Israeli military action, and our troops are ready to attack deep into the occupied territories once again," he stressed.

Negotiations between Iran and the United States were previously carried out through Oman mediation, until Israel's sudden attacks on Iran on June 13 sparked a 12-day war, targeting military, nuclear and civilian sites, and killing a number of senior military commanders and Iranian nuclear scientists.

Iran retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks on Israeli military and intelligence facilities.

Iran also accused the US of involvement in the attack, which killed top military officials, nuclear scientists, and Iranian civilians. The US also carried out attacks on Iran's three main nuclear sites and claimed to have destroyed them.

The US-mediated ceasefire between the two countries was announced on June 23.

A new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and three European countries, known as E3 namely England, France, and Germany is scheduled to take place on Friday in Istanbul.