Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on November 2 that Tehran will rebuild its nuclear facilities, “with greater force,” articulating that his country does not seek to possess a nuclear weapon.
In a statement to official media, Pezeshkian added, “Science exists in the minds of our scientists, and destroying facilities and factories will not be a problem for the development of our nuclear industry.” He continued, “Destroying nuclear facilities will not delay our progress. We will rebuild them stronger. All of our nuclear activities aim to solve citizens’ problems and non-military issues. We consider the use of nuclear bombs prohibited.”
The President’s office stated that Pezeshkian visited the headquarters of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization on October 30 and met with managers of the Iranian nuclear industry. The office indicated that the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Islami, presented to Pezeshkian during the visit a report on the latest developments in the Iranian nuclear industry.
Pezeshkian also inspected the “Martyr Fakhrizadeh” research reactor and the radioactive drug production laboratory at the Atomic Energy Organization, according to the Iranian Presidency’s website, and was briefed on the latest achievements of this industry in the research and medical fields.
On June 22, the U.S. dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, roughly 14,000 kilograms each, known as bunker buster bombs, on Tehran’s three nuclear facilities, the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Facility, and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. The bombs were carried by B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. Tomahawk missiles were also fired from a U.S. submarine. On July 28, U.S. President Donald Trump warned, “We wiped out their nuclear possibilities. They can start again. If they do, we’ll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it.”
President Pezeshkian does not appear to be trying to excite Trump. He stressed, “all these programs are for solving people’s problems, for treating diseases, and for the health of society.”
The July 29 Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, citing the Russian Arms Telegram Channel, reported that at least one division of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air-defense system—equipped with 48N6DM missiles—had been delivered to the Iranian Air Defense Forces and deployed near Isfahan. The Middle East Eye reported July 7, that China transferred surface-to-air missile systems to Iran following the ceasefire with Israel. This could be an area that warrants watching.
