Iran’s nuclear chief says the country has developed advanced domestic technology despite American and Israeli military strikes, while international inspectors warn that restrictions on monitoring Tehran’s nuclear program remain a serious proliferation concern.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran’s top nuclear official claimed Tuesday that the Islamic Republic has achieved technological capabilities comparable to developed nations, crediting domestic scientists with overcoming foreign restrictions and rebuilding industrial systems damaged during the ongoing war with the United States and Israel.
Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, made the remarks during a National Standard Day ceremony in Tehran, emphasizing that international opposition has not prevented the country from advancing its nuclear program.
“We are on a par with developed countries in nuclear science and technology, and that is a reality. Opposition and refusal to accept Iran’s possession of nuclear technology does not change the reality of the country’s scientific capabilities,” Eslami said, according to Iranian state broadcaster Press TV.
Eslami maintained that Iran’s nuclear activities were peaceful and rejected accusations that the government had engaged in wrongdoing.
He said Iranian engineers had developed domestic replacements for specialized industrial equipment after American and Israeli strikes damaged refineries, petrochemical facilities and steel plants earlier this year.
According to Eslami, foreign suppliers refused to provide replacement components or repair industrial control systems, forcing Iranian specialists to manufacture alternatives.
He credited younger scientists with the advances, noting that professionals working on nuclear-related technologies have an average age of approximately 35.
The claims come amid continuing disagreements over Iran’s uranium enrichment program, which remains a central obstacle to resolving the conflict that began February 28.
Eslami reiterated Tehran’s refusal to abandon uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for civilian nuclear reactors but can also provide material for nuclear weapons when carried to substantially higher concentrations.
“We will not abandon it in any way,” Eslami declared last week.
Before American and Israeli strikes damaged Iran’s nuclear facilities, the country had enriched uranium to 60% purity, significantly above levels commonly required for civilian power generation and approaching the approximately 90% concentration associated with nuclear weapons.
According to a Reuters examination of Iran’s nuclear program, international inspectors estimated that Tehran possessed approximately 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% before the June 2025 attacks.
Although the International Atomic Energy Agency has not established that Iran is currently operating an active nuclear weapons program, the enriched material and limitations on international inspections have generated substantial proliferation concerns.
The IAEA warned in September that restricted access to damaged nuclear installations prevented inspectors from fully verifying Iran’s nuclear material and activities. Iran has maintained that its program serves peaceful purposes, including electricity generation and medical research.
The dispute has also intensified political divisions within Iran’s government.
Hard-line lawmakers initiated efforts to impeach Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi following his September 22 meeting with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in New York.
The Qatar-mediated discussions focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major international energy shipping route disrupted by the conflict.
Critics accused Araghchi of holding discussions without authorization from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. However, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, disputed that characterization, saying the foreign minister had been instructed to convey Tehran’s conditions through diplomatic intermediaries.
The impeachment motion has not been placed on parliament’s agenda.
Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also faced criticism following the circulation of a video in which he questioned the strategic value of possessing nuclear weapons.
“Nuclear weapons do not create deterrence,” Zarif said in remarks recorded in May 2025 and circulated publicly last weekend.
According to The National’s reporting on the controversy, hard-line media outlets accused Zarif of undermining national security by questioning established defense policies.
The dispute reflects competing views within Iran’s political establishment over whether military pressure or diplomatic negotiations offer the best path toward ending the confrontation with Washington.
Iran and the United States have exchanged proposals in recent weeks concerning the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but substantial disagreements remain over Tehran’s nuclear activities.
President Donald Trump has indicated that additional American military strikes will not occur before the November 3 midterm elections, although the Pentagon continues preparing potential operations.
Eslami’s remarks underscore Tehran’s determination to portray its nuclear capabilities as a national achievement despite military damage, economic pressure and international demands for restrictions.
Whether those capabilities can be independently verified remains uncertain while international inspectors lack full access to Iranian nuclear facilities and material.
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