Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly denied that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons during a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on the sidelines of a United Nations biodiversity summit held in Yerevan, Armenia, on October 16. Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s willingness to engage in dialogue while condemning the sanctions imposed by the United States.

Addressing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian dismissed allegations of nuclear weapons development as "malicious propaganda" and reiterated that Tehran’s intentions are peaceful. “Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons,” he said, according to a statement released by his office. He also stressed that Iran remains open to negotiations despite external pressures.

Pezeshkian criticized U.S. sanctions, describing them as "unjustifiable and inhumane," and asserted that Iran will not yield to coercive measures. “They think they can force us to surrender, but we will not bow to coercion,” he added, highlighting Tehran’s stance against what it perceives as economic and political pressure.

The Iranian president’s remarks come amid ongoing international tensions regarding Iran’s nuclear activities and renewed diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. His meeting with Kobakhidze, a key regional figure, underscored Tehran’s intent to engage with neighboring countries and regional actors on a range of issues, including environmental and security matters.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who accompanied Pezeshkian at the summit, did not provide immediate comments on the discussions. The meeting took place during the UN Biodiversity Conference, where global leaders are focusing on environmental challenges, but also serves as an opportunity for diplomatic engagements on political issues.

The United States and other Western countries maintain that Iran’s nuclear program poses a security threat and have called for stringent verification measures, while Iran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes only. This divergence continues to complicate efforts to restore international agreements and reduce regional tensions.