Russia backs Iran’s right to nuclear fuel cycle under NPT

A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said Saturday that the outcome of ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States depends on whether global powers act with “fairness and rationality.”

Ali Larijani, a former parliament speaker and close aide to Ali Khamenei, said the diplomatic process may or may not succeed, depending on how the current world order is managed.

“These talks may succeed, or they may not. It depends on whether there is fairness and rationality in how global affairs are conducted,” Larijani said.

He added that while international rules are often presented as multilateral, power dynamics ultimately drive outcomes. “Many global regulations are outwardly backed by international institutions, but behind them lies power,” he said.

“Right now, the Americans believe they must enforce their power,” he added, referring to what he described as Washington’s unilateral approach.

The remarks come as indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US remain in limbo, following the postponement of a fourth round scheduled in Rome.

Larijani also said that Iran did not create groups like Hezbollah or Hamas, and dismissed the idea that Tehran relies on regional proxies.

“Did we create Hezbollah? No. It started when Israel occupied Beirut,” Larijani said. “They say Iran has armed branches — Iran doesn’t need armed branches.”

Referring to Israeli statements about Hamas, he said: “If Hamas has been destroyed, then whom are you exchanging prisoners with?”

The rial dropped past 870,000 to the US dollar in Tehran’s open market, reversing gains made earlier last month during previous rounds of diplomacy in Oman. The currency had recovered to around 795,000 following the third round but slid again amid rising uncertainty.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Iran must end all uranium enrichment and open all nuclear facilities, including military sites, to American inspectors if it wants to avoid “serious consequences, including potential military action.”

“There’s no reason for enrichment unless you want a weapon,” Rubio told Fox News, adding that Iran must also abandon support for proxy groups and halt long-range missile development.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday dismissed Rubio’s demands, warning that such “maximalist positioning and incendiary rhetoric achieve nothing except eroding the chances of success.” He said Iran has “every right to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle as a founding signatory to the NPT.”

“A credible and durable agreement is within reach,” Araghchi said. “All it takes is firm political will and a fair attitude.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country enriching uranium to 60%.

No official reason has been given for the postponement of this weekend’s round. Iranian officials have acknowledged lingering disagreements over both general principles and technical details.

The rial had plunged to a record low of around 1,058,000 per dollar in early April before stabilizing during earlier rounds of talks.

Three more victims of the Rajaei port explosion have been identified, bringing the total to 36, according to Hormozgan’s forensic authority.

DNA samples have been collected from remaining bodies and close relatives.

“After genetic data is clarified and the samples matched, the results will be announced,” Javad Mirhadi said.

The joint statement, signed by a wide range of international voices, condemned Tehran’s judicial handling of political prisoners and called on democratic governments and UN bodies to act swiftly.

The appeal centers on the cases of Behrouz Ehsani, 69, and Mehdi Hassani, 48, whose death sentences were recently upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court.

The statement described their prosecution as a sham: “Their kangaroo trial on 10 August 2024, lasting just five minutes, was a travesty of justice: they were denied legal counsel for nearly two years, tortured, and silenced during proceedings.”

The charges include “membership in the exiled opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization” and “propaganda,” framed as “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth” under Iran’s legal code.

“We demand an immediate halt to their execution,” the signatories wrote. “The international community must not remain silent.”

The group also warned of a broader execution drive under President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in August 2024. Since then, more than 1,000 executions have been carried out, disproportionately targeting women, juveniles, ethnic and religious minorities, and political dissenters. Several prisoners, including Abolhassan Montazer and Sharifeh Mohammadi, have already been moved to Ghezel Hesar Prison—described in the statement as “a notorious execution site.”

The appeal highlights findings by former UN Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman, whose July 2024 report concluded that mass killings in Iran in 1981–82 and 1988 amounted to crimes against humanity and genocide. “The Iranian authorities’ systematic targeting of political prisoners is rooted in a culture of impunity,” the joint statement said.

They called on the UN and democratic governments to “identify and sanction Iranian officials responsible for human rights violations” and to tie future relations with Iran to the release of political prisoners and abolition of the death penalty.

Iran accounted for 64% of all known global executions in 2024, with at least 972 people executed, according to Amnesty International.

Iran will respond strongly to any military threat and does not take such warnings lightly, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Saturday, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that Iran must halt uranium enrichment or face serious consequences.

“Iran will give a very strong response if they take any action. We are absolutely not joking about this,” Mohajerani said in remarks to ILNA news agency. “We will not back down from threats on this issue under any circumstances.”

Her comments came after Rubio said Iran must end enrichment and allow full American inspections of its nuclear facilities or risk potential military action. Iran, which maintains its program is peaceful, has rejected full disarmament.

Mohajerani stressed that Iran is fully prepared for all scenarios but prefers diplomacy. “We are ready for everything, but we are not interested in conflict,” she said. “That is why we support dialogue and negotiations.”

She emphasized that Iran did not enter the talks lightly. “We didn’t enter negotiations to waste our time. Of course, we hope for a positive outcome, but we are continuing to run the country regardless of what happens.”