Iranian president claims Iran open to nuclear program verification

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian flatly denied Thursday that Tehran wants a nuclear bomb while claiming Iran is willing to submit its nuclear program for international inspection, blaming Washington for the nearly seven-month war in the Middle East and accusing it of blocking diplomacy. Asked point-blank during an exclusive interview on Fox News’ "Special Report," "Do you want a nuclear bomb or not?" Pezeshkian firmly rejected the premise. "Not at all. Not at all. Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal," he told Bret Baier, referencing religious edicts issued against weapons of mass destruction. IRAN 'ALREADY AGREED' TO GIVING UP NUCLEAR WEAPON AMBITIONS, TRUMP REVEALS The Iranian leader's public denial came amid long-term international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and its enrichment of uranium to levels well beyond those typically used for civilian nuclear power.