If sanctions are not lifted, we will build nuclear weapons: Iran

(PTI) Tehran, Ta. Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Iran's intelligence minister has warned Western nations that if international sanctions on Tehran continue, it could move toward nuclear weapons, according to Iranian state television.

Mehmood Alvi's remarks are considered important because a statement on the resumption of nuclear program is rarely made by a government official. So far, Tehran has said it will use nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes.

In the 1990s, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a fatwa banning nuclear weapons. "Our nuclear program is peaceful," Alvi said in a statement. However, if the West pushes Iran towards this, it is not Iran's fault

He further added that there is no doubt that if a cat is caught, its behavior will be different from that of a free cat. However he clarified that he has no plans to build nuclear weapons in the current circumstances.

Ayatollah Khamenei, 81, on Sunday called on the United States to lift sanctions on Iran. He added that if the United States wanted Iran to comply with all the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal, it would have to lift all sanctions against Iran.

However, Biden said the United States would not take the initiative. An Iranian scientist was assassinated last December. The scientist was believed to have played a key role in Iran's nuclear program. Iran blames Israel for the killings. Israel has denied the allegations.