Skip to main content

Iran will not yield to ‘excessive demands’ on nuclear programme: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that his country would "not yield to excessive demands" on its nuclear programme, after Tehran resumed talks with the United States. Speaking at Azadi Square in the capital Tehran, to mark the 47th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution, he said, "Our country, Iran, will not yield to their excessive demands." "Our Iran will not yield in the face of aggression, but we are continuing dialogue with all our strength with neighbouring countries in order to establish peace and tranquillity in the region," President Pezeshkian said, also adding that the state was ready for "any verification" of its nuclear programme and insisted it was not seeking an atomic weapon. Iran and the United States resumed negotiations last week for the first time since the war with Israel last June, which saw the US conduct strikes on nuclear sites in Iran. Iran wants the talks to remain centred purely on its nuclear pr...

Iran will not yield to ‘excessive demands’ on nuclear programme: Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that his country would "not yield to excessive demands" on its nuclear programme, after Tehran resumed talks with the United States. Speaking at Azadi Square in the capital Tehran, to mark the 47th anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution, he said, "Our country, Iran, will not yield to their excessive demands." "Our Iran will not yield in the face of aggression, but we are continuing dialogue with all our strength with neighbouring countries in order to establish peace and tranquillity in the region," President Pezeshkian said, also adding that the state was ready for "any verification" of its nuclear programme and insisted it was not seeking an atomic weapon. Iran and the United States resumed negotiations last week for the first time since the war with Israel last June, which saw the US conduct strikes on nuclear sites in Iran. Iran wants the talks to remain centred purely on its nuclear programme, while the United States also wants the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile programme and its support for militant groups in the region to be discussed. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, though Western countries and Israel believe it is seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon. Every year, supporters of Iran's leadership turn out in force to mark the anniversary of the revolution that ousted the US-backed shah in 1979. At Azadi Square on Wednesday, an AFP correspondent saw a large security presence, bigger than in previous years. Veiled women waved the flag of the Islamic Republic and carried pictures of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran last month saw a nationwide protest movement that sparked a major crackdown, with the United States threatening military action in support of the demonstrators. "We will disappoint our enemies" People brandished images of Trump with the slogan "we will disappoint our enemies", an AFP journalist said. The protests and threat of US military action have posed a major challenge for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's number one, who took up his post for life in 1989 after the death of Khomeini. Late Tuesday, as authorities set off fireworks to mark the event, people took to balconies in Tehran to chant slogans including "death to Khamenei" and "death to the dictator", according to footage shared by protest monitor channels on Telegram and X, including Vahid Online and Mamlekate. Vahid Online posted a video claiming people were chanting against the government, but they forgot to change the audio like they did in previous videos and left the original sound. Everyone was actually saying “Allahu Akbar.” He later deleted it and reposted the exact same video… pic.twitter.com/vMH8PK6fde — Leyla (@leylajmsh) February 10, 2026 However, Vahid Online has seen scrutiny from many on X, who say that he puts fake audio over otherwise pro-government videos. AFP said they verified three such videos posted by Mamlekate. US-funded group Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has claimed that 6,984 people, including 6,490 protesters, were killed during the protests as authorities launched the crackdown. Meanwhile, at least 52,623 people have been arrested in the ensuing crackdown, it added. Those arrested most recently have included figures in the reformist movement inside Iran who supported Pezeshkian's 2024 election campaign. The chanting of the slogans late Tuesday marked a "continuation of the nationwide protests despite the prevailing security atmosphere and widespread control measures," HRANA said.

from Latest World News, International News | Breaking World News https://ift.tt/MXkHav6

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

At least 32 miners dead after bridge fails at cobalt site in southeast DR Congo

A bridge collapsed at a cobalt mine in southeast Democratic Republic of Congo killing at least 32 wildcat miners, a regional government official said Sunday. The bridge came down Saturday onto a flooded zone at the mine in Lualaba province, Roy Kaumba Mayonde, the provincial interior minister, told reporters. He said 32 bodies had been recovered and more were being searched for. The DRC produces more than 70 percent of the world supply of cobalt, which is essential for batteries used in electric cars, many laptop computers and mobile phones. More than 200,000 people are estimated to be working in giant illegal cobalt mines in the giant central African country. Local authorities said the bridge collapsed at the Kalando mine, about 42 kilometres (26 miles) southeast of the Lualaba provincial capital, Kolwezi. "Despite a formal ban on access to the site because of the heavy rain and the risk of a landslide, wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry," said Mayonde. He said ...

US, Philippines kick off joint military drills in South China Sea with 16,000 troops

Some 16,000 US and Philippine troops kicked off the annual joint military drills on Monday in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), local media reported. WPS is the official designation by Philippines to the parts of the South China Sea that are included in the country's exclusive economic zone. The 19-day exercises, dubbed "Balikatan 2024," will involve around 5,000 Philippine and 11,000 US troops, making it the largest joint military drills between the two allies conducted in decades, local English daily Manila Times reported citing the military. A total of 14 nations, including Japan and India, will take part in the drills as observers amid mounting maritime tensions in the South China Sea. Contingents from the Australian Defence Force and the French Navy will also join the exercise as participants. Read also: China urges US to stop using Philippines as a pawn to destabilise South China Sea France will join the group sail but will only navigate on the edge of the Philippine E...

US, Chinese defence chiefs hold first talks since 2022

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke via video teleconference Tuesday with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun in their first engagement in more than a year, the Pentagon said. They discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global security issues, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. "During the discussion, Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of continuing to open lines of military-to-military communication between the US and the People's Republic of China. "He also underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea, and reiterated that the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows," Ryder added. Read also: US, China need 'tough' conversations, Yellen tells Chinese premier Austin reiterated that the US remains committed to its One China Policy, which is guide...