Pezeshkian says Iran will not yield to US force

Summary

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and will not be forced to surrender, while saying the country was ready for dialogue. During talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Yerevan, he condemned US sanctions as unjustifiable and inhumane and called for closer ties with Georgia, Middle East Eye reports.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   16 Oct 2026, 11:38 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Pezeshkian said the United States could not make Iran capitulate by force and that Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons, during a trip to Armenia.

2. Middle East Eye

   16 Oct 2026, 16:44 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that during talks with Georgia's prime minister in Yerevan, Pezeshkian denied Iran sought nuclear weapons, said it was ready for dialogue, rejected coercion, condemned US sanctions and called for closer ties with Georgia.