Iran not 'scared' of US naval presence, defends nuclear plans

Iran’s top diplomat rebuked Washington on Sunday, declaring that Tehran will not be "scared" by the recent deployment of US naval assets to the region.

Speaking at a forum in Tehran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made it clear that Iran has no intention of scaling back its nuclear ambitions, specifically its uranium enrichment programme, despite mounting military and diplomatic pressure from the United States.

The Foreign Minister’s comments come just two days after a high-profile meeting in Oman with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for US President Donald Trump.

Following the indirect talks, Witkoff visited the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier currently stationed in the region as part of an American military buildup.

Araghchi, however, dismissed the naval manoeuvres as ineffective.

"Their military deployment in the region does not scare us," he stated, stressing the nuclear programme as a matter of national sovereignty rather than a bargaining chip.

‘No one can dictate to us’

Araghchi signalled that Tehran is prepared for the most extreme consequences —including armed conflict — to protect its nuclear infrastructure.

He emphasised that the country has already "paid a very heavy price" for its “peaceful nuclear programme” and would not retreat now.

"Why do we insist so much on enrichment and refuse to give it up even if a war is imposed on us?,” Araghchi asked.

"Because no one has the right to dictate our behaviour."

In 2018, the US withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), triggering a “maximum pressure” campaign and effectively ending the landmark 2015 agreement with Tehran.

Tensions escalated in June 2025 when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June that triggered a 12-day war, while US bombers targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in “Operation Midnight Hammer.”