Tehran: Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi reaffirmed his country’s stance that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons.

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour,  Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said, “We do not believe in nuclear weapons. They have no role in our national defense strategy.”

He added, “The world would be safer without nuclear arsenals. But the question remains: who in the Middle East possesses nuclear weapons?”

He pointedly noted, “Israel is the only country in the region known to have nuclear capabilities. Meanwhile, the United States has the most advanced military technology. Ultimately, those powers bear responsibility for much of the instability and chaos we see today.”

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi tells Christiane Amanpour “our hands will not be tied,” if the US joins Israel’s strikes against Iran’s nuclear program