Deputy Head of the AEOI Asghar Zarean. Photo: The Iran Project.

An Iranian nuclear official confirmed Tehran has not halted progress on the nuclear program, which would proceed “vigorously,” state-run IRNA reported on Monday.

Asghar Zarean, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said that Iran’s nuclear program, which he claimed was peaceful, had not stopped as a result of the signing of the JCPOA. On the contrary, he said, it will be strengthened through international technological cooperation.

Zarean added that the AEOI had taken on the development of the nuclear program during the current transitional period, and that political pressure, threats and sanctions by Iran’s “enemies” would not have any effect.