Diplomacy
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has delivered a forceful condemnation of the recent United States airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling the assault a โbrutal act of aggressionโ that has effectively closed the door on diplomacy.
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Araghchi warned that Iran would exercise its right to self-defence under international law and respond to the attack in a โfirm and measuredโ manner.
The US strikes targeted key nuclear installations in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordowโsites which Tehran insists are entirely peaceful and under constant monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Araghchi described the attack as an โunprecedented violation of the United Nations Charter, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and international law,โ accusing Washington of colluding with what he termed the โgenocidal Israeli regimeโ to launch a military assault on the sovereignty of a United Nations member state.
โThis is not just a military act,โ Araghchi said. โIt is a grave and unforgivable crime against international law and a dangerous step that could plunge the region into deeper chaos.โ
In a notable shift in tone, Araghchi made it clear that diplomacy was no longer a viable pathโat least in the immediate future. He revealed that Iran had been engaged in active negotiations with European powers in Geneva up until just two days prior to the strike. โIt was not Iran that walked away from the negotiating table,โ he stated. โIt was the United States that sabotaged diplomacy by choosing missiles over dialogue. There is no room left for negotiations under the shadow of bombs.โ
Blasting the current US administration as โwarmongering and lawless,โ Araghchi asserted that Washington must bear full responsibility for the consequences of its actions. โThis reckless attack not only targets Iran but also undermines global peace and security. The United States has proven that it is willing to destroy the diplomatic process for the sake of domination and provocation.โ
Araghchi also criticized the silence of international institutions, particularly the IAEA, whose lack of response to the attack he described as โdeeply troubling.โ He warned that the agencyโs credibility would be in jeopardy if it failed to uphold the neutrality and protections mandated by its charter. โThe IAEAโs indifference raises serious questions about its impartiality,โ he added.
In his appeal to the international community, Araghchi called on world powers to condemn the US strikes and take a stand against what he called โjungle law.โ
He warned that failure to hold Washington accountable would erode the very foundations of the rules-based global order. โIf this type of aggression goes unchecked, then the principles of sovereignty and international cooperation will become meaningless,โ he cautioned.
Turning to regional diplomacy, Araghchi noted that he had already held โproductive discussionsโ with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan and other regional leaders about ways to prevent further escalation, especially in light of Israeli involvement in the strikes.
He also announced plans to travel to Moscow for high-level consultations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. โIran and Russia share a strategic partnership,โ he said. โWe will coordinate closely on our next steps in response to this aggression.โ
Concluding his remarks, Araghchi reaffirmed Iranโs resolve in the face of external threats. โThe Iranian people are united, and we will not tolerate repeated violations of our sovereignty. Our response will not be symbolicโit will be grounded in international law and shaped by our national interests,โ he declared.
