Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations regarding the achievements and challenges of Iran’s resistance against Western pressure to dismantle the country’s nuclear program, said: “Perhaps it would be better to use the term ‘standing firm to secure peaceful nuclear rights’ instead of ‘nuclear resistance.’”

This former Iranian diplomat emphasized that the issue of nuclear rights and Iran’s use of peaceful nuclear technology is part of the historical campaign of the Iranian people to pursue their national development rights. He added: “Perhaps the current generation is unaware that there was a time when Iran was not even allowed to have a railway or an iron smelting plant. We must not forget that when Dr. Mosaddegh nationalized Iran’s oil industry, Britain brought the case of Iran’s oil nationalization to the UN Security Council under the pretext of an act against international peace and security and imposed severe sanctions against our country. Ultimately, with the help of the U.S., they orchestrated a coup against Dr. Mosaddegh’s national government and, through the formation of a consortium, resumed the plunder of Iran’s oil.”

He continued: “Standing firm to benefit from the right to peaceful nuclear technology aligns with the same will of the Iranian nation for national development, which was previously demonstrated in efforts to establish a railway, an iron smelting industry, and a national oil industry. Iran’s stance on the nuclear issue pertains to the country’s national development, and what the enemies of the Iranian people target is precisely this national development and progress. Raising the issue of atomic bomb-making is just an excuse, just as they labeled the nationalization of Iran’s oil industry as a threat to international peace and security.”

This former Iranian diplomat stressed: “The Iranian people do not know the path of retreat from national growth and development and will undoubtedly continue this path despite all difficulties, just as today the entire world acknowledges that Iran’s nuclear issue has no military solution, that Iran is an advanced country, and that its nuclear industry cannot be destroyed by bombing. Our country has paid heavy costs to realize its peaceful nuclear program and has reached a point of no return. The world will ultimately recognize Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.”

In response to the question of what position the development of Iran’s nuclear program holds in the eyes of the world and the international community despite sanctions and pressures, he stated: “It is still unclear what exactly happened in the recent bombings by the U.S. and the Zionist regime against Iran nuclear facilities, but according to official statements, significant damage has been inflicted on the facilities. However, the point everyone emphasizes is that nuclear knowledge cannot be destroyed by bombing, and Iran has indigenized its nuclear knowledge. Thus, despite the heavy damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities, the two elements of knowledge and will remain intact, sending a clear message to the world.”

Regarding the role of Iran’s active diplomacy during the 12-day war in proving and defending its nuclear legitimacy in international forums and consultations with various countries, Mousavi said: “Unfortunately, in the current international system, there is no such thing as logic or persuasion. If anyone thinks they can secure their rights through logic and reasoning, they are mistaken. In the existing international system, where the law of the jungle prevails, one must first secure one’s rights and then consolidate them through logic and reasoning. Saying this does not mean ignoring the importance of diplomacy and persuading the international community, but rather understanding the reality that, in addition to articulating the philosophy of one’s rights, power on the ground is also necessary.”

He added, “Wars fundamentally arise to destroy the rights of others. If everyone were aware of and content with their own rights, there would be no conflict or war. Thus, if a war exists, it is because someone seeks to negate a right, and certainly, the one who draws the sword to destroy a right will not sheathe it based on reasoning or logic. Therefore, the sword must be met with a sword, but at the same time, the power of reasoning and defending rights must be strengthened to establish just conditions.”

Regarding ways to enhance and strengthen the country’s nuclear security, including cooperation with other nuclear states, he stated: “Iran’s nuclear security is consolidated by national power, and when we speak of national power, we mean the combined strength of military, intelligence, security, technological, and economic capabilities, as well as national cohesion, all of which must be addressed and enhanced simultaneously. The recent move by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran’s Parliament) in passing a law mandating the government to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is in line with this approach.”

This former Iranian diplomat emphasized: “This law was passed in response to the violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Zionist regime and the United States against the country’s peaceful nuclear facilities. It obligates the government to suspend cooperation with the IAEA until full respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the security of nuclear centers and scientists, is ensured. This law mobilizes all national forces to defend nuclear rights and considers the protection of nuclear rights in line with national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Thus, it can be said that the strict implementation of this law is the best way to enhance the country’s nuclear security.”

He continued: “Regarding cooperation with other countries, it must be said that no country will transfer cutting-edge technologies to Iran, and progress in certain fields requires investment in research and development. This does not mean rejecting cooperation with other countries in advanced sciences and technologies, including nuclear technology, but rather acknowledging the reality that knowledge must first be indigenized, then developed through research, and only then can cooperation with other countries be considered.”