Iran Will Never Compromise Its Security

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Yesterday, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations in New York stated in a notice that the speech of Seyed Abbas Araghchi, our country’s Deputy Foreign Minister, which was scheduled to be delivered virtually on Monday at the Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, has been canceled.

The mission has now published the text of our Deputy Foreign Minister’s speech.

Parts of Araghchi’s speech are as follows:

Iran, as one of the signatories of the NPT in the 1960s, has long been committed to the principles of universal access to peaceful nuclear technology and the rejection of nuclear weapons. We are also the only country on Earth that has officially opposed nuclear weapons on moral and religious grounds, through the religious decree of Iran’s Supreme Leader, which declares such weapons unlawful. Iran has also long been a steadfast advocate for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone (and recently, a zone free of weapons of mass destruction) in the Middle East.

We first proposed this idea alongside Egypt in 1974, and this goal remains a cornerstone of our foreign policy, as we firmly believe that nuclear weapons have no place in our region or the world. Western countries, by turning a blind eye to Israel’s nuclear arsenal and its refusal to join the NPT or accept IAEA monitoring, have created a double standard in the global non-proliferation regime. It is 2025; this double standard must end.

Unfortunately, our (Iran’s) peaceful nuclear program has been misrepresented due to misconceptions and politically motivated narratives. I am cautiously optimistic that this toxic trend may be on the verge of change. It seems Trump is aware of the catastrophic mistakes of previous U.S. administrations, mistakes that have cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars in our region while yielding no benefit for the United States.

Iran has long shown that it is ready to engage with the United States based on mutual respect and from a position of equality. This includes recognizing our rights as an NPT signatory, including the ability to produce fuel for our nuclear power plants. We have also made it abundantly clear that we have nothing to hide, which is why Iran agreed under the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) to the most extensive inspection regime the world has ever seen.

The U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018 and the subsequent reimposition of sanctions disrupted this progress and destroyed trust. But despite these failures, Iran is once again demonstrating its commitment to diplomacy.

To move forward, the foundation must be sound. Any negotiation must be built on the principle of reasonable and fair compromise. Our actions speak for themselves: We have adhered to our JCPOA commitment that we would never seek nuclear weapons, a fact recently confirmed by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. Since we have kept our commitment even seven years after the U.S. left the JCPOA, Iran can always be trusted to honor what it signs. Those who claim otherwise are either misinformed or deceitful.

Two other misconceptions must also be addressed:

First, some groups are openly trying to manipulate the current diplomatic process between Iran and the U.S. Their efforts include the false claim that “a potential agreement would be another JCPOA.” While achievement is important, I want to make it completely clear that many in Iran believe that “another JCPOA is not good enough for us.” They demand a new agreement that guarantees Iran’s interests while addressing the concerns of all parties. I am inclined to agree with this demand. Now, I cannot speak on behalf of Trump, but given his past actions, it can be assumed that he, too, does not want another JCPOA.

Second, Iran has never been on the path of economic and scientific cooperation with the U.S. The obstacle has been previous U.S. administrations, which often acted under the influence of the same special interest groups. As I recently clarified in an article in The Washington Post, the trillion-dollar opportunity our economy offers may soon be open to American companies—including those capable of helping us produce clean energy from non-hydrocarbon sources.

Looking ahead, any potential agreement must be based on: Guaranteeing Iran’s economic interests, a strong monitoring and verification program, and ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

Only this approach can bring long-term stability and assurance.

The scope of negotiations must also be clear: Negotiations should focus solely on lifting sanctions and nuclear issues. In a turbulent region like ours, Iran will never put its security up for negotiation.

The need to respect Iran’s civilizational past and the cultural and political identity shaped by our ancient history is equally important. The use of threats and pressure against the proud nation of Iran has long had the opposite effect, closing paths to compromise rather than opening them.

Finally, Iran must not be seen as an exception in the global non-proliferation framework. As a signatory to the NPT, Iran has equal rights and, like every other member, is bound by its obligations. Respecting this principle of equality is essential for achieving a just and sustainable solution. Moreover, if the global non-proliferation regime is to endure, all parties—especially nuclear-armed states—must fulfill their commitments.

Iran is prepared to play its role in building a safer region, free from the threat of nuclear weapons.