First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref says Iran is steadfast in its independent nuclear policy, stressing that it will “neither consult nor take orders” from anyone.

According to The Iran Project, Addressing the inauguration of the new head of the country’s Iranology Foundation in Tehran Tuesday, Aref said the "essence of Iranian culture is the acquisition of knowledge, even in the most distant parts of the world". 

"We must make maximum use of advanced technologies and make these technologies, along with Iranian civilization, available to others," he said.

"We must use nuclear technology, like other technologies, to elevate humanity and solve society's problems. In this regard, we do not consult or take orders, and at the same time, we make it available to everyone," Aref added.

Aref touched on an Iranophobia campaign by the West, saying while "Iranian civilization and culture are the saviors of humanity, having been able to absorb Islamic culture so that today, we do not see this Iranian and Islamic culture separately, and Iran means Islamic Iran". 

"The result of Western civilization is the tragedies in Gaza, but the result of Iranian civilization is the pride and honor that wherever we travel in the world, we are proud of being Iranian," he said. 

"And this current Iranophobia has been created by those who claim to be civilized," he added.