Hassan Rouhani: We Do Not Need an Atomic Bomb

During his provincial visit to Isfahan, Hassan Rouhani stated that Iran does not need an atomic bomb. Speaking on Wednesday, February 4, he remarked, "They say we do not want Iran to build an atomic bomb. What have you achieved by building atomic bombs, and have you been able to create security for yourselves? We do not need an atomic bomb." The West accuses Iran of intending to develop an atomic bomb, a claim Tehran has consistently denied, describing its nuclear program as peaceful. The Iranian president further stated, "We are a great nation with precious youth who, despite all pressures and sanctions, have launched a new satellite into space." On Tuesday, Iran announced the launch of a satellite named "Fajr." This event drew a response from the United States, which considers Iran's missile program "concerning" and a "threat to the region." Jen Psaki, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, noted that "the international community has passed a series of resolutions in the UN Security Council focusing on sensitive activities related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran." Another part of Rouhani's speech criticized the U.S. government, stating that it has failed to resolve healthcare issues, saying, "You have not been able to cover all your people with insurance and have only made promises, while the Iranian nation and the government serving the people have provided health insurance coverage for the entire nation." According to Rouhani, "The eleventh government, representing this nation, has reduced the average payment for treatment in public hospitals from 38% to only 4%." The Iranian government has implemented a health insurance plan aimed at providing medical services to all citizens of Iran who are not covered by any insurance. On the other hand, on February 3, Rouhani stated at the end of a meeting of the heads of the three branches of the Islamic Republic regarding Iran's nuclear file and negotiations with six world powers that "the Iranian negotiating team is approved by all high-ranking officials of the system, and the Supreme Leader has also shown his support for this team several times." According to the IRNA news agency, the Iranian president mentioned that "in some cases, the gaps and differences have decreased." While Rouhani spoke of diminishing disagreements, the Associated Press reported, citing informed diplomats, that Iran and the U.S. are nearing an agreement that would allow Iran to retain a significant portion of its enrichment technology while reducing its potential nuclear weapon production capacity. According to these diplomats, under the proposed plan, the configuration of Iran's centrifuges will be modified to reduce their enrichment levels. In this context, one diplomat stated that an agreement with Iran "could include restrictions to ensure that Tehran's nuclear program remains under control." The Associated Press further reported that "Iran commits to transferring most of its produced enriched uranium abroad to reduce the amount needed for bomb production." In this regard, a report from RAND discusses what will happen after the nuclear agreement with Iran, stating that Iran and the U.S. are negotiating over a "nuclear compromise."