Iran's Pezeshkian says Tehran seeks peace, but will not bow to coercion

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Friday that while Iran seeks peace, it will not be pressured into abandoning its nuclear and missile programmes, according to state media reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump remarked on Thursday that Iran had inquired whether U.S. sanctions could be lifted.

Pezeshkian responded, saying, "We are open to talks within international frameworks, but not under conditions that demand we forfeit our right to nuclear science or our right to defend ourselves with missiles, or face the threat of bombing."

Iran has consistently rejected any negotiations regarding its defensive capabilities, including its missile programme, and the notion of halting all uranium enrichment on its soil.

"We want to live in peace and security in this world, but not at the cost of humiliation. It is unacceptable for them to impose their will on us while we simply comply," Pezeshkian added.

"They provide arms to Israel, yet demand we abandon our missiles for defence, then bomb us whenever they please."

Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks before a 12-day war broke out between Iran and Israel in June, during which U.S. and Israeli forces bombed Iranian missile sites.

Israel views Iran as an existential threat. However, Iran maintains that its ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 2,000 km (1,200 miles), are a crucial deterrent and retaliatory force against the United States, Israel, and other potential regional foes. Iran denies any intention of developing nuclear weapons.

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