Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Thursday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a fatwa prohibiting weapons of mass destruction, affirming that Tehran will not produce nuclear weapons.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Pezeshkian’s comments come as the third round of nuclear talks with the United States approaches. The U.S. continues to accuse Tehran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, despite Iran’s assertions to the contrary.

Khamenei, who holds the ultimate authority over Iran’s nuclear program, issued the fatwa in the early 2000s, explicitly prohibiting the production of nuclear weapons.