WANA (Oct 25) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said that Iran’s “nuclear bomb” is its ability to say no to global powers, a symbolic expression of the nation’s independence since the victory of the 1979 Revolution. He also stated that while Iran and the United States have fundamental differences rooted in Washington’s hegemonic behavior, their relations can still be “managed.”

 

National Unity: A Turning Point During the 12-Day War

Araghchi described the unity of Iranians inside and outside the country during the recent 12-day war with Israel as a “historic turning point” and urged that this social capital be preserved. Referring to large pro-Iran gatherings abroad, he said this unity stemmed from “a deep sense of Iranian pride and attachment to the homeland.”

 

He added, “Even with all our internal differences, when Iran, our land and our identity are at stake, we stand together as one.”

 

The minister emphasized that Iran’s innocence and legitimate rights were evident to the world during the conflict, reiterating that the country’s nuclear program “has always been peaceful and lawful.”

Iranians attend Quds Day and the funeral of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who were killed in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in the Syrian capital Damascus, in Tehran, Iran, April 5, 2024. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

Diplomacy Before Conflict

Referring to the period before the attack, Araghchi said Iran was engaged in negotiations to build confidence and prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. “We had already held five rounds of talks and scheduled the sixth when the attack suddenly took place two nights earlier,” he explained.

 

According to him, this timing made Iranians believe that “the government was acting rationally and responsibly,” strengthening national support.

 

Araghchi called the 12-day confrontation a model of resistance, saying: “If this resistance had not taken place, it could have become a pattern — that whenever someone wants something from Iran, they attack or threaten. Iranians proved they do not retreat from their rights and are not afraid to stand firm.”

 

Readiness as a Deterrent

He stressed that military and societal preparedness prevents war: “Readiness does not mean expecting another war; it’s the main factor that prevents one. If you’re not ready for war, that’s when war happens.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Enrichment and the Power to Say No

Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran’s nuclear program is completely peaceful and within its legal rights, saying, “We have a religious decree — a fatwa — against nuclear weapons. Our nuclear bomb is the power to say no to others.”

 

He added, “We pursued enrichment because it’s our right, not because we seek weapons. Our strength lies in the ability to say no to pressure.” Araghchi emphasized that Iran remained committed to the nuclear deal until the U.S. unilaterally withdrew: “We never left the JCPOA; America did. We fulfilled our commitments until the very last moment.”

 

Managing Relations with the U.S.

While acknowledging that Iran’s experiences with Washington have been “bitter,” Araghchi said the relationship is manageable: “As long as the U.S. maintains its domineering nature and Iran refuses to submit, the problem will persist. But we can manage it. There’s no reason to pay every price.”

 

He added that if the U.S. abandons its hegemonic behavior, “constructive engagement is possible,” stressing that Iran responds positively to “dialogue based on mutual respect, not coercion.”

People walk past a billboard with a picture of nuclear scientists killed in Israeli strikes and Iranian centrifuges, on a street in Tehran, Iran August 29, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)

No Trust, but Open to Diplomacy

Citing the nuclear deal as a failed test of trust, he noted: “We negotiated sincerely, reached an agreement, and implemented it, but America withdrew. There’s no basis for trust — and yet, even without trust, we can still interact cautiously.”

 

Araghchi concluded: “We will never abandon the rights of the Iranian people or tolerate domination, but we are ready for any rational and fair solution.”