Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has criticized the UN chief’s call for Iran to renounce nuclear weapons, calling it audacious and insisting that Tehran remains firmly committed to its obligations under global nonproliferation agreements.

Writing on X on Thursday, Araghchi pointed to Iran’s record, noting that it signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) as a founding member in 1968, and that the country’s Supreme Leader has issued a religious edict banning all weapons of mass destruction.

He also highlighted the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, which subjected Iran to what he described as "the most intrusive inspection regime in IAEA history."

"This is a permanent and clear commitment which Iran has remained committed to—even after the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018," Araghchi said.

The comments come after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Iran on Wednesday to mend ties with its neighbours and the United States by demonstrating a clear commitment to renounce nuclear weapons development.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Guterres emphasised the importance of relations between Iran, Israel, and the United States, describing them as a central challenge given the absence of diplomatic ties between Iran and its two longstanding adversaries.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official defended Tehran’s nuclear programme as critical for national security. Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Monday that the programme serves as a deterrent against international threats.

"Over the years, adversaries have tried to weaken Iran’s progress in this field and entangle the country in international conflicts," Kamalvandi said during a military conference in Tehran.

The issue remains a flashpoint within Iranian political circles. Hardliners have previously advocated for pursuing nuclear weapons as a deterrent, particularly in response to external threats.

Following Israeli airstrikes on 26 October, Javan, a newspaper aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), called for Tehran to reconsider its position and explore the development of nuclear arms as a countermeasure.