Iran reaffirms commitment to uranium enrichment despite US pressure

On October 8, 2026, Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announced that Tehran will not abandon its uranium enrichment activities nor surrender its current stockpiles. Eslami dismissed recent US threats against Iranian nuclear facilities as routine, describing enrichment as an essential, non-negotiable component of the nation's nuclear program.

This statement follows remarks by US Vice President J.D. Vance, who suggested in an interview with Reuters that Iran must significantly curtail its enrichment activities as a necessary condition for ending the ongoing conflict. In response to the growing international pressure, a senior Iranian official indicated that Washington must first meet Tehran’s specific conditions before any formal negotiations concerning the country's nuclear program can be initiated.