Iranian president: Our beliefs prevent us from pursuing nukes

“We are not after weapons of mass destruction. That’s our red line,” he said. “If Iran was after weapons of mass destruction, it would build chemical weapons. Those are easier to make. It would build biological arms, which are even easier than making chemical weapons.”

He said Iran’s “beliefs” and commitment to “ethical principles”, not merely the U.N’s nuclear non-proliferation treaty, prevent it from making a bomb. Iran is a signatory to the NPT and says it will remain committed to its obligations not to build nuclear weapons under the treaty but will not compromise on its right to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel.

“We signed these treaties to show the world we are not after such weapons,” he told military commanders. “Even if there were no NPT or other treaties, our belief, our faith, our religion and principles tell us not to seek weapons of mass destruction.”