Provocative and baseless: Iran slams Austria’s weapons report

Shafaq News/ On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Austria’s
chargé d’affaires in Tehran, Michaela Bacher, following claims in Vienna’s
annual intelligence report alleging Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

Alireza Molla Khedmeh, Director General for Western Europe at the
ministry, conveyed Iran’s “categorical rejection” of the report during a
meeting in Tehran, describing the allegations as “baseless” and “inconsistent
with repeated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) findings” affirming the
peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.

“The Austrian intelligence agency’s action is irresponsible,
provocative, and lacks legal or technical grounding,” Molla Khedmeh said,
urging Vienna to issue a formal clarification to prevent damage to bilateral
relations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei also criticized the report,
calling it “false, misleading, and politically motivated,” warning that
the claims “undermine the IAEA’s credibility” and serve “hostile media
narratives.”

The Austrian intelligence service claimed in its report, published May
26, that Iran maintains an active program to develop nuclear weapons
potentially designed for delivery via long-range missiles, while Tehran has
repeatedly denied such ambitions, maintaining that its nuclear activities are
strictly civilian and in compliance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iranian officials stressed that unless Austria reverses its stance, the
accusations could have diplomatic repercussions.