Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian adamantly stated that his nation has no plans to develop nuclear weapons in a high-stakes speech to the UN General Assembly. Days before a crucial deadline that may see Tehran subject to a full range of international sanctions again, intensifying a long-running conflict over its nuclear aspirations, this public guarantee was given. The viability of the 2015 nuclear deal is at stake, and the speech sets the stage for a tense diplomatic week-ending.
What Did President Pezeshkian Actually Say?
President Pezeshkian’s statement was direct and unequivocal. “I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons,” he told world leaders. This reaffirmation of Iran’s long-standing position that its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful purposes lies at the heart of the escalating crisis. However, his words were aimed at countering accusations from the United States, its European allies, and Israel, who allege that Iran’s civilian nuclear programme is a veil for efforts to develop weapons capability.
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Why is There a September 27th Deadline?
The urgency stems from a move by Britain, France, and Germany, collectively known as the E3. They accused Tehran of not adhering to the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and on August 28 began a 30-day process to reinstate U.N. sanctions on Iran. This process is set to conclude on Saturday, September 27. The E3 triggered this “snapback” mechanism after citing Iran’s breaches of the agreement, which include exceeding limits on enriched uranium stockpiles and restricting access for international inspectors.
What is the European Offer and Iran’s Response?
The European powers have not closed the door on diplomacy. To give room for further talks, they have proposed delaying the imposition of sanctions for a maximum of six months. This offer is conditional on Iran taking three key steps: restoring full access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addressing concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and directly engaging in talks with the United States. President Pezeshkian, however, sharply criticised the E3’s actions as “illegal,” claiming they were made at “the behest of the United States.” He accused them of setting aside “good faith” and circumventing “legal obligations.”
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What Happens if the Deadline Passes Without a Deal?
The “snapback” mechanism will be triggered, reimposing all U.N. sanctions that were removed under the 2015 agreement, if no agreement is achieved by the end of September 27. This would have dire repercussions for Iran, whose economy is already suffering due to harsh U.S. sanctions that President Donald Trump restored in 2018. The actions would consist of:
- A reinstatement of the U.N. arms embargo.
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.
- A ban on activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
- A global asset freeze and travel bans on targeted Iranian individuals and entities.
Is There Still Hope for a Last-Minute Agreement?
Following attacks on Iranian nuclear sites in June, Iran’s parliament passed a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). However, on September 9, the IAEA and Tehran reached a deal to resume inspections. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed this week that a team of inspectors was on its way to Iran, contingent on a political deal being struck to avert the sanctions. This suggests that behind-the-scenes negotiations are actively underway, making the hours leading up to the deadline critically important for avoiding a further escalation.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TDG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
