Iran's president vows to continue nuclear development despite potential UN sanctions

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that the country would pursue nuclear development despite the possible reinstatement of UN sanctions.

“They are trying to block our path forward by using the sanctions snapback mechanism. But the road can still move forward if approached thoughtfully,” Middle Eastern media quoted him as saying.

Pezeshkian emphasised that Iran would remain capable of advancing its nuclear program.

“They cannot stop us. They may strike our facilities in Natanz or Fordow, but these facilities were built by people—and people can rebuild them,” the president stated.

Iran's nuclear program has been a flashpoint for international tensions since the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal between Iran and world powers (including the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the EU) that limited Tehran's uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief.

The U.S. withdrew in 2018 under President Trump, prompting Iran to gradually breach JCPOA limits, enriching uranium to near-weapons-grade levels (up to 60% purity by June 2025, per IAEA reports). This escalation intensified after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025, damaging sites like Natanz and Fordow but not fully destroying the program, which Tehran claims is for peaceful purposes

By Khagan Isayev