• Iran's leaders assert the country will never seek nuclear weapons.
• Sanctions threat looms as diplomatic talks continue with European powers.
• Supreme Leader Khamenei rules out negotiations with the U.S., calling them harmful.
• Iranian President Pezeshkian criticizes E3 nations for acting under U.S. influence.
• International pressure increases as the September 27 sanctions deadline approaches.

Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, emphasized that the country has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, stating, "Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb," during recent addresses at the United Nations General Assembly. This comes as multiple European powers are considering the reimposition of UN sanctions due to Iran's alleged failure to adhere to the 2015 nuclear deal, which was designed to curtail its nuclear ambitions, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and India Times.

Khamenei firmly ruled out any direct negotiations with the United States, declaring such talks a "sheer dead end" and criticizing them as an imposition rather than a negotiation. His statements were echoed in discussions where Iran and the E3 nations—Britain, France, and Germany—attempted to reach a last-minute agreement to prevent the reinstatement of sanctions set to take effect on September 27, according to TRT Global, Reuters, and Dawn.

As the deadline for diplomatic negotiations approaches, Pezeshkian criticized the E3 for acting under U.S. directives, asserting that they have set aside good faith in their dealings with Iran. He lamented that the E3's actions have effectively disregarded Iran’s attempts to comply with the original terms of the nuclear deal, especially following the U.S.'s unilateral withdrawal in 2018, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The negotiations have drawn urgent attention amid warnings that if Iran does not take concrete measures to address concerns regarding its nuclear activities, all UN sanctions will be reinstated. The E3 has indicated they are open to delaying sanctions for six months if a viable plan for dialogue is established, which includes restoring access for UN inspectors, according to Reuters and India Times.