Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to provide written assurances that it will not build a nuclear bomb, while also insisting on Iran’s right to enrich uranium. His comments come ahead of planned talks between Iranian officials and US negotiators in Switzerland, with the negotiations focused on narrowing differences over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking in the context of the upcoming diplomatic engagement, Pezeshkian indicated that Iran is willing to put its position on nuclear weapons prevention into a formal, written format. The statement suggests an effort to address longstanding international concerns about the potential military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear activities, and it signals Tehran’s willingness to offer concrete commitments as part of broader negotiations.
At the same time, Pezeshkian made clear that Iran does not intend to abandon what it regards as sovereign rights under the nuclear framework: the ability to enrich uranium. Iran has long argued that enrichment for peaceful purposes is a legitimate national right. This position has been at the center of tensions between Iran and Western governments, especially the United States, which has repeatedly sought restrictions or limits on enrichment capabilities to reduce proliferation risks.
The upcoming talks in Switzerland are expected to involve detailed discussions on the practical terms of any agreement, including the scope and verification of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments. The dual nature of Pezeshkian’s message—both offering reassurance about not building a bomb and reiterating the enrichment right—highlights the core bargaining challenge: how to reconcile assurances about weapons intentions with limits or transparency measures regarding enrichment and related nuclear activities.
The negotiations are particularly significant because they come amid a long-running dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme. International efforts have repeatedly attempted to create a framework that curbs sensitive nuclear work while allowing Iran to continue certain civilian activities under strict oversight. Past diplomatic rounds have produced partial understandings and interim arrangements, but a durable, comprehensive solution has remained elusive due to disagreements over enrichment levels, verification mechanisms, sanctions relief, and the enforceability of commitments.
By emphasizing “written assurances,” Pezeshkian appears to be addressing a key demand from the international community for clearer documentation rather than general statements. Written guarantees could also be intended to strengthen Iran’s negotiating position by demonstrating that Tehran is prepared to engage seriously and provide verifiable commitments.
However, Iran’s insistence on maintaining the right to enrich uranium means the talks are likely to remain difficult. The US and other Western partners typically argue that any enrichment capability, even if claimed to be for peaceful purposes, carries inherent proliferation risks if not tightly constrained and continuously verified. Iran, meanwhile, argues that enrichment is essential for civilian energy production and that external restrictions are unjustified.
The balance between these competing priorities suggests that negotiators will focus not just on whether Iran can provide assurances, but also on what those assurances would cover and how they would be monitored. Questions likely include what constitutes a reliable commitment, what verification standards are acceptable to Iran, and what limitations—if any—would be placed on enrichment and stockpiles.
The fact that the talks are set to take place with US negotiators in Switzerland underscores the continuing role of multilateral diplomacy in managing the nuclear dispute. Switzerland is commonly used as a neutral location for diplomatic discussions, reflecting the sensitivity and complexity of negotiations involving competing national security interests.
Pezeshkian’s remarks therefore reflect both a potential opening and a firm boundary. The potential opening is Iran’s willingness to provide written assurances against building a nuclear bomb. The boundary is Iran’s insistence on retaining the right to enrich uranium, a stance that may limit how far Iran is willing to go toward reducing sensitive capabilities.
As both sides head into the next stage of discussions, the key issue will be whether the parties can align on a package deal that includes nuclear assurances, operational constraints or transparency measures, and corresponding political and economic outcomes such as relief from sanctions.
According to Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera Breaking News: BREAKING: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran is ready to give written assurances it will not build a nuclear bomb, while insisting on its right to enrich uranium, ahead of talks with US negotiators in Switzerland. 🔴 More on. #breaking
— @AJENews May 1, 2026
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