Iran to hold talks on nuclear program, won’t cede core security

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that Iran is willing to hold talks on its nuclear program but will not cede core security interests under threat, as Tehran faces the imminent reimposition of international sanctions and mounting domestic pressure to harden its stance. Speaking in New York, Pezeshkian also denied that Iran seeks nuclear weapons and condemned U.S. and Israeli attacks in June that he said undermined diplomacy.

"We cannot talk with someone who wants to use force and bully," Pezeshkian said, adding later, "I hereby declare once more before this Assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb." He framed Iran's position as one of reciprocity and national defense, while accusing Western states of acting in bad faith over a decade of negotiations after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal.

The speech came as Britain, France and Germany triggered a U.N. snapback mechanism to reinstate sanctions lifted under the 2015 agreement. The move began a 30 day window that will restore penalties this weekend unless Tehran and European powers reach a last minute accord. If...