Iran atomic energy chief says no country can deprive Tehran of enrichment rights

Iran’s atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami says no country can deprive the Islamic Republic of its right to nuclear enrichment, after US President Donald Trump again hinted at military action following the second round of US-Iran talks over Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva.

“The basis of the nuclear industry is enrichment. Whatever you want to do in the nuclear process, you need nuclear fuel,” says Eslami, according to a video published by the Etemad daily publication.

“Iran’s nuclear program is proceeding according to the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and no country can deprive Iran of the right to peacefully benefit from this technology,” he says.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.