Iran rules out halting nuclear activities amid escalating conflict with Israel

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that Tehran will not halt its nuclear activities “under any circumstances,” even as Israeli strikes target nuclear facilities and tensions between the two countries escalate.

In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran remains open to diplomatic engagement on its nuclear program, but ruled out any rollback of its nuclear ambitions.

“We are ready to discuss and cooperate to build confidence in the field of peaceful nuclear activities. However, we do not agree to reduce nuclear activities to zero under any circumstances,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s official IRNA news agency.

The president reaffirmed Iran’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear program, saying that such rights “cannot be taken away by threats or war.” Israel has claimed that Tehran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran firmly denies.

The intensifying conflict has seen Israel and Iran exchange successive rounds of strikes since June 13, with Iran’s nuclear sites reportedly hit in recent Israeli attacks. Pezeshkian warned that Iran’s retaliation will escalate if Israeli operations continue. “Our response to the continued aggression of the Zionist regime will be more devastating,” he said.

Casualty figures vary widely. Iran’s health ministry reported over 400 people killed and more than 3,000 wounded by Israeli strikes. Meanwhile, Iran’s retaliatory attacks have killed at least 25 people in Israel, according to official Israeli sources. Independent rights groups estimate the toll in Iran may be even higher, with one US-based NGO citing over 650 deaths, including hundreds of civilians.

Diplomatic efforts appear stalled. Talks held Friday in Geneva ended without progress. While European diplomats voiced hope for future dialogue, Iran’s foreign minister insisted that Tehran would not negotiate under fire. “Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again, and once aggression is stopped and the aggressor is held accountable for the crimes committed,” he said.

Meanwhile, information inside Iran remains scarce. Internet watchdog NetBlocks.org reported another collapse in connectivity on Saturday amid a nationwide internet blackout that has persisted for several days.

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