Iran denies nuclear ambitions, says ready for talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Friday that Iran has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons and that US sanctions against Iran are unjustifiable and cruel. During talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Pezeshkian affirmed Iran's willingness for dialogue and rejected accusations that Iran seeks nuclear weapons.

The two leaders emphasized the necessity of closer ties between Iran and Georgia, following Tbilisi's cessation of aviation links with Iran following US sanctions targeting Iranian airlines. Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is prepared for dialogue, maintaining that the country will not yield to coercion. Kobakhidze, for his part, rejected foreign influence in the internal affairs of neighboring countries, a stance not explicitly confirmed by his office in their official account of the meeting.

They engaged in discussions about bilateral relations and regional security, with Kobakhidze stressing the value of dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions and foster lasting peace. Georgia's Civil Aviation Agency announced in September its compliance with US sanctions, though Kobakhidze affirmed that Tbilisi would not implement its own bilateral sanctions on Iran.