'No nuclear weapons,' reiterates Iranian President Raisi

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated Iran's determination not to produce nuclear weapons, referring to a fatwa, a formal ruling or interpretation in Islam, issued by the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of "Iran Expo 2024" in Tehran, President Raisi stressed that the production of nuclear weapons has no place in Iran's nuclear and defense doctrine.

He underlined Iran's resilience against economic sanctions and said that the fair promotes economic development for Iran, the region, and the world. He also emphasized that Iran continues to develop and make progress despite the sanctions.

Nuclear technology only for civilian purposes

Raisi mentioned concerns over Iran's nuclear program and reiterated that Iran is using nuclear technology only for civilian purposes and will continue to do so in accordance with the Supreme Leader's fatwa.

In the early 2000s, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa prohibiting Iran from developing or using nuclear weapons.

However, recent events, such as the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, have led some Iranian politicians to speculate that Khamenei's fatwa may be amended.

Javad Karimi-Koddousi, a member of the Supreme National Security Council and a conservative lawmaker, claimed that a change in the fatwa could lead to Iran carrying out a nuclear test within a week, sparking a domestic backlash.

Source: AA