Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Iran has never sought, and will never pursue, nuclear weapons, reiterating his country’s commitment to peaceful nuclear activities.

“I hereby declare once more, before this assembly, that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” Pezeshkian said during the General Debate on Wednesday. “This is our belief based on the edict issued by the Supreme Leader and by religious authorities. We never sought weapons of mass destruction, nor will we ever seek them.”

Pezeshkian rejected the attempts by Britain, France, and Germany (E3) to reinstate United Nations sanctions against Iran, calling them “illegitimate.” The E3 recently triggered the snapback mechanism under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by notifying the UN Security Council of Iran’s alleged “non-performance.” However, Tehran argues the move is invalid since the countries bypassed the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) required under the JCPOA and UN Resolution 2231.

The DRM allows 35 days to resolve disagreements before any snapback can be triggered. Iran insists the E3’s action undermines international law and threatens the integrity of the nuclear deal.

Earlier in the day, Pezeshkian held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the UNGA. He reiterated Iran’s willingness to engage in dialogue with European parties within an “acceptable framework,” while Macron emphasized France’s determination to prevent escalation and maintain stability in the Middle East.

Both leaders also reviewed bilateral relations and expressed hope that resolving outstanding disputes could pave the way for expanded cooperation between Tehran and Paris.