Der Spiegel Weekly Claim "Ridiculous"

arif said such claims are part of a scaremongering campaign targeting the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear work, paving the way for adopting wrong policies vis-à-vis Syria.

In an article published on Friday, Der Spiegel claimed that the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is making efforts to build nuclear bombs, adding that Damascus may be getting assistance from the Islamic Republic to produce nuclear arms.

The top Iranian diplomat further described the claims as “ridiculous” and said such reports are aimed at inciting fears and promoting Iranophobia in the international community.

Iran has repeatedly voiced opposition to the possession of nuclear weapons either on its soil or anywhere else in the world, said Zarif, adding that Tehran favors the removal of all nuclear arms as they are to the detriment of everyone.

“Based on the fatwa by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, we have never been and will never be after nuclear weapons,” added the Iranian foreign minister.

Iran’s nuclear chief said the country has answered all the questions raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over Tehran's nuclear energy program.

“Western countries attached a political history to our country’s nuclear issue, while we answered all their 18 technical questions,” said the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi.

He said the six countries are still expecting answers from Iran as they have politicized the issue. “The P5+1 group has announced that there is still room for discussion on two questions. The IAEA has, however, almost accepted all the answers."

Salehi underlined that Iran's nuclear issue can be settled through political will.

“Our country’s nuclear issue is not technical and can be resolved only through political will,” he noted.