Iran Official Says Tehran Has Right to Enrich Uranium

U.S. officials say that the country must end its pursuit of enriched uranium.

Damage is visible to a residential building that, according to Iranian authorities, was hit by a strike on March 4 during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in southeastern Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2026. Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

An Iranian official on Wednesday said Tehran has the right to enrich uranium, a key point of contention that led the United States and Israel to launch strikes against the country several weeks ago.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the country will not back down on its rights to enrich uranium and that it should be able to pursue nuclear energy, according state-run news agency Tasnim News.