Iran’s President: 'Iran Will Not Retreat from Its Legal Rights'
The Iranian president responded to U.S. President Trump’s warning urging Tehran to act on a nuclear proposal. “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad’s going to happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his country’s commitment to maintaining its legal right to peaceful nuclear enrichment, emphasizing national sovereignty and self-reliance in a speech on Saturday. His remarks came during a ceremony marking the second anniversary of the return of Iran’s 86th Naval Fleet, as reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Speaking to military personnel, the Iranian President highlighted Iran’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in the defense sector. “In the military and defense sectors, this belief that we can succeed and meet our military needs independently, without relying on others, is a source of national pride,” he said.
The Iranian president’s comments appeared to be in response to recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who during a visit to the Middle East warned Tehran of consequences should it fail to act on what he referred to as a U.S. nuclear proposal.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad—something bad’s going to happen,” according to Reuters.
Iranian officials, however, have denied receiving such a proposal. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that “There is no scenario in which Iran abandons its hard-earned right to (uranium) enrichment for peaceful purposes… We ALWAYS welcome dialogue based on mutual respect and ALWAYS reject any diktat.”
Iran has not received any written proposal from the United States, whether directly or indirectly.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 16, 2025
In the meantime, the messaging we—and the world—continue to receive is confusing and contradictory. Iran nonetheless remains determined and straightforward: Respect our rights and…
President Pezeshkian echoed similar sentiments in his address, underlining that Iran is not seeking conflict but remains firm in asserting its rights. “We are not seeking war; we believe in dialogue and negotiation. However, we are not afraid of threats, and we will never retreat from our legal rights,” he stated.
He also stressed the importance of unity and national development, affirming that Iran would continue to strengthen its domestic institutions and pursue cooperative relations with neighboring countries. “We will never relinquish our achievements in military, academic, scientific, and nuclear fields,” he said.
Pezeshkian also criticized what he described as double standards in international discourse, referencing the targeted assassinations of Iranian figures in recent years. “They assassinate our scientists and accuse us of terrorism. We reject such narratives,” he said, as quoted by IRNA.
His remarks come at a time of renewed diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington. According to Reuters, the U.S. administration views Iran as approaching the threshold of nuclear weapon capability and is urging Tehran to return to negotiations or face additional international pressure.
While no formal diplomatic breakthrough appears imminent, President Pezeshkian concluded his address by emphasizing national unity and the readiness of Iran’s armed forces. “Our military institutions—including the Army, IRGC, and Basij—remain committed to serving the people in all circumstances,” he said.
The situation underscores the ongoing complexity of U.S.-Iran relations. With both sides holding firm to their positions, the path forward will likely depend on renewed diplomatic engagement and mutual confidence-building measures to address longstanding security concerns and political grievances.
