No One Dictates to Iran’: Top Diplomat Vows to Continue Uranium Enrichment Despite U.S. Strike

According to Saed News, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has emphatically reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to its uranium enrichment program, rejecting external pressure even in the wake of a controversial U.S. airstrike on Iranian nuclear sites.

In a tense interview with Germany’s ARD television program Bericht aus Berlin, Takht-Ravanchi dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been “completely eliminated,” calling the remarks both inaccurate and provocative.

“We are a committed member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Takht-Ravanchi said. “No one has the authority to dictate what Iran can or cannot do, as long as we remain within our international obligations.” He denounced the U.S. strike as an “act of aggression” and a “clear violation of international law,” targeting facilities that are legally protected under peaceful nuclear frameworks.

When pressed on whether Iran would retaliate militarily, the diplomat responded: “As the victim of aggression, it is our right under Article 51 of the UN Charter to defend ourselves. Our military knows what needs to be done—and it will act accordingly.”

He refrained from confirming whether Iranian forces would target American bases in the region, maintaining that strategic details would remain confidential. “I am not a military man,” he said. “But we will defend our sovereignty.”

Takht-Ravanchi further dismissed international calls—particularly from Washington and Berlin—for immediate talks, noting that Iran had been engaged in dialogue as recently as June 13, the same day it was attacked. “We don’t engage in talks for the sake of talking,” he said. “Dialogue under bombardment is not dialogue.”

When asked about Iran’s ongoing engagement with Russia, Takht-Ravanchi emphasized deep bilateral cooperation across economic, cultural, and military sectors. While he declined to explicitly confirm military support from Moscow, he acknowledged long-standing defense ties: “Military cooperation with Russia isn’t new—it spans decades.”

He also reacted sharply to recent remarks by the German Chancellor, who was quoted saying, “Israel is doing the dirty work for us.” Takht-Ravanchi called the statement “deeply regrettable,” insisting that Germany should stand by the victim, not the aggressor. “We don’t know if the Chancellor regrets saying that—but such language is unacceptable when lives and sovereignty are at stake.”