US official says Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Sunday that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, calling it an “existential threat,” during remarks at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi.
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Sunday that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, calling it an “existential threat,” during remarks at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi.
Burgum said Washington hopes dialogue can lead to “a world where we don’t have to worry about that,” while reaffirming the strategic importance of the Persian Gulf region to US interests.
He added that the United States supports reliable and affordable energy sources and is encouraging allies to trade in critical minerals rather than rely on adversaries.
Speaking during a visit to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Pezeshkian said Tehran’s nuclear drive is intended to “meet the essential needs of the people and enhance national welfare.”
He said that while the destructive potential of nuclear technology is well known, “only a fraction of its applications relate to weapons,” and the rest serves medicine, agriculture, and industry.
The president’s remarks come amid heightened tensions with the West over Iran’s nuclear activity following the reimposition of UN sanctions and renewed scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Pezeshkian said Iran’s nuclear scientists are working on the production of radiopharmaceuticals and medical isotopes, calling their efforts “a form of scientific jihad and sincere service to the nation.”
He rejected Western accusations that Iran seeks to develop nuclear arms, saying that “building a nuclear weapon is not on our agenda and they know this well.”
Instead, he accused global powers of using false claims to block Iran’s technological independence and maintain control over high-tech industries and markets.
Pezeshkian also criticized what he called the waste of national resources through excessive fossil fuel consumption and urged scientists to focus on clean technologies and renewable energy.
“We burn millions of barrels of oil and gas daily and ignore the potential of science to create added value,” he said, adding that this neglect fuels environmental damage and economic dependency.
The president vowed full government support for advancing the country’s peaceful nuclear program, saying that Iran must strengthen its position in the global market for radiopharmaceuticals and other nuclear-related technologies.
“With careful planning and the efforts of our scientists, we can expand our share of the international market,” he said.
Iran plans eight new reactors
Iran plans to build eight new nuclear power plants in cooperation with Russia as part of a long-term strategy to expand its nuclear energy capacity, Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Sunday.
Eslami said the new facilities would be located along the country’s northern and southern coasts.
He told reporters that the projects are part of a roadmap to generate 20,000 megawatts of nuclear power by 2041.
Eslami said four of the planned reactors would be built in Bushehr -- home to Iran’s existing nuclear plant -- and four elsewhere, with site details to be announced later.
He added that Iran is also pursuing domestic projects, including a power plant in Darkhoveyn and a desalination project in Bushehr, aimed at addressing electricity and water shortages.
