Iran's Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami said Tehran will not abandon its right to uranium enrichment, describing the country's nuclear industry as a driving force for scientific and technological advancement.

Speaking to reporters in Tehran, Eslami rejected the possibility of Iran suspending its uranium enrichment activities, saying enrichment is an inseparable part of the nuclear process.

"Absolutely not. Enrichment is an integral part of the nuclear process. How can you claim to have a nuclear industry without possessing the starting point of this process?" Eslami said.

According to Iran's Fars News Agency, Eslami said nuclear technology plays a key role in scientific progress, national development and security.

"Nuclear technology is a driving engine for science and technology. The United States itself and its current President Donald Trump have also placed nuclear technology among the priorities of development in national development, security and defense documents," he said.

Eslami stated that countries around the world are rapidly pursuing nuclear technology and stressed that scientific progress is the right of the Iranian people.

"We will not step back," he added.

US demands reduction in enrichment activities

Eslami's remarks came after US Vice President JD Vance said Iran must make a "meaningful" reduction in its uranium enrichment activities in order to meet Washington's demands and end the conflict between the two countries.

The issue of uranium enrichment remains one of the main disputes between Tehran and Washington, with Iran insisting that enrichment is part of its rights under international agreements, while the United States has called for restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran increased enrichment after US withdrawal from nuclear deal

Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to limit its uranium enrichment level to 3.67 per cent.

However, after then-US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran, Iran gradually expanded its enrichment activities, increasing the enrichment level to 60 per cent.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously said Tehran had been prepared to reduce enrichment activities during negotiations with Washington before the war that began following US-Israeli attacks on February 28.

However, Araghchi said Iran would not accept Washington's demand for "zero enrichment."

The dispute over Iran's uranium enrichment programme continues to remain at the center of tensions between Tehran and Washington as diplomatic efforts and regional developments continue.(ILKHA)