Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian denies pursuit of nuclear weapons and offers talks
Pezeshkian rejected accusations, called for closer Iran–Georgia ties and criticised U.S. sanctions during a meeting in Yerevan.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected claims that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons and voiced openness to talks during a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
Meeting on the margins of the UN biodiversity conference
The two met on the sidelines of the UN biodiversity meeting in Yerevan, Armenia. Pezeshkian urged closer ties between Iran and Georgia, a call that comes weeks after Georgia suspended air links with Iran following U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian airlines in September.
“Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and we believe that the malicious propaganda against our country is false,” Pezeshkian said, rejecting accusations about Tehran’s intentions.
He reiterated Tehran’s willingness to enter dialogue and criticised Washington’s measures. “We have always been ready for dialogue. They think they can force us to capitulate, but we will not yield to coercion,” he added, describing U.S. sanctions on Tehran as “unjustified and inhumane.”
Pezeshkian also requested a precise timetable for strengthening cooperation between Tehran and Tbilisi. Kobakhidze, for his part, said he opposes any foreign interference in the internal affairs of neighbouring states.
In September the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency announced it would comply with the U.S. sanctions regime; Kobakhidze emphasised that Georgia itself has not imposed separate sanctions on Iran.
Photo: press material from the event
