Russia rejects US call for Iran to abandon nuclear program

Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov on Friday dismissed a US call for Iran to abandon its nuclear program, stating that Iran is not obliged to do so and that the program is Iran's inalienable right. In a post on X, Ulyanov criticized the United States for relying on what he described as wrong assumptions about nuclear non-proliferation. "Iran is not obliged to abandon its nuclear program. It is Iran's inalienable right," Ulyanov said. "Unfortunately, the position of the Republican administration is based on wrong assumptions of non-proliferation norms and the IAEA activities," he added.

Ulyanov was responding to US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who claimed that Iran had broken the rules and was enriching uranium to 60 percent with no credible civilian purpose. The exchange highlights ongoing international divisions over Iran's nuclear activities and the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iran has maintained a consistent position regarding its peaceful nuclear program since the US-Israeli wars of aggression in June 2025 and early 2026. According to the report, in both wars the aggressors targeted Iran's civilian infrastructure, including nuclear facilities, in violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Following the first US-Israeli war of aggression, which began amid indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, the Iranian Parliament unanimously passed legislation in June 2025 requiring the government to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA. Under the law, IAEA inspectors will not be permitted to enter Iran unless the security of Iranian nuclear facilities and peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed, subject to the approval of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

According to Mehr News, the statements from Ulyanov and Waltz reflect the continuing diplomatic tensions over Iran's nuclear program and the IAEA's monitoring role. The report added that Iran has consistently framed its nuclear activities as peaceful and has conditioned any cooperation with the IAEA on guarantees for the security of its facilities.