Araghchi: US Seeks Dictation, IAEA Inspections Not Possible
WANA (Dec 17) – Iran’s Foreign Minister said if the US corrects its approach and is ready for equal negotiations, Iran will reconsider; however, what they call negotiations is ‘dictation.” They cannot achieve through negotiations what they failed to do through war. He also noted that the IAEA lacks protocols to inspect attacked nuclear facilities; therefore, inspections are not possible.
Iran–Russia Relations Have a Comprehensive and All-Encompassing Nature
Seyed Abbas Araghchi, speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, stressed: Today, very close, precise, and detailed negotiations were held in all areas, including bilateral, regional, and international issues. Bilateral relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation in recent years, especially this year, have seen significant expansion.
The Iranian foreign minister emphasized that with the signing of the comprehensive partnership treaty between the two countries, cooperation has entered a new phase and gained greater momentum. According to him, the treaty has now entered the implementation stage, and the two sides are moving forward based on the outlook outlined in it.
Araghchi said: In the agreement signed today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the agenda of the foreign ministries of the two countries for 2026 to 2028 was set, which will serve as a roadmap for cooperation over the next three years. Iran–Russia relations have a comprehensive and all-encompassing nature.
Iran and Russia Sign Foreign Ministry Consultation Program on December 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
He also noted that over the past year and a half, during the term of the fourteenth government, the presidents of Iran and Russia have met five times, reflecting the high level of bilateral relations.
Regular meetings and consultations between the two foreign ministers have also continued, and the most recent meeting of the two presidents was held last Friday in Ashgabat, where bilateral and international issues were reviewed.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: Economic relations between Iran and Russia have expanded significantly. Cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation, and transit—especially in the strategic North–South Corridor project and the Rasht–Astara section—is progressing.
Bilateral trade is also on an upward trend, and new areas for its development are being pursued. The joint economic commission of the two countries, with 17 specialized working groups, will be held in February.
Iran, as a Committed NPT Member, Adheres to All Its Obligations
Iran’s foreign minister also emphasized that Tehran, as a committed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), adheres to all its obligations, but will not forgo its legal rights under the same treaty.
Iran and Russia Sign Foreign Ministry Consultation Program on December 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: The peaceful use of nuclear energy, including enrichment, is Iran’s inalienable right, and this right remains in place despite the attacks carried out. The US and Israeli regime attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, although they damaged some buildings and equipment, have neither destroyed the country’s indigenous technology nor weakened the will of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
At the international level, there is also a clear convergence of views to confront the system of domination, coercion, and double standards of Western countries, especially the United States.
Iran and Russia Share Views on Countering Sanctions and Unilateral Measures
In another part of the press conference, Araghchi emphasized that Iran and Russia share views on countering sanctions and unilateral measures and maintain close cooperation within international and regional organizations.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: The two countries are members of organizations such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union, and actively pursue their joint interactions.
Iran and Russia cooperate in countering illegal US sanctions, economic cooperation, exchanging experiences, and operational coordination, and support international initiatives opposing coercive actions and unilateral sanctions.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi in the joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on December 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
He added that in this context, the “Friends of the UN Charter” group, with the membership of Iran, Russia, China, and other countries, has been formed, and the Islamic Republic of Iran supports any international action to confront the system of domination, coercion, and US bullying.
Iran Firmly Opposes Any Foreign Military Presence in the Caucasus
Continuing the joint press conference, Araghchi said: We had very good consultations, and our positions are completely clear. The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that security and stability in the Caucasus and Central Asia should be ensured by the countries of the region themselves.
According to Araghchi, within this framework, Iran has proposed the “3+3” mechanism for the Caucasus and is seriously pursuing this path. Planning is currently underway to hold the next meeting of foreign ministers within this mechanism.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi stressed: Iran firmly opposes the presence of any foreign force in the Caucasus region, and this position has been conveyed to neighbors and regional partners. Iran and Russia share a common position in this regard and believe that no power or country outside the region should interfere in the security affairs of the Caucasus or threaten regional stability.
The West and the US Betrayed Diplomacy and Negotiations
Referring to the aggressive attacks by the Israeli regime and the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, which took place amid indirect negotiations in Oman, the Iranian foreign minister said that the U.S. betrayed diplomacy and negotiations.
Iran and Russia Sign Foreign Ministry Consultation Program on December 17, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency
He added, “The opposing side, through its actions, has undermined diplomacy and the principle of negotiation. Nevertheless, if it corrects its approach and shows real readiness for an equal, respectful dialogue based on mutual interests, Iran will reconsider the issue of negotiations. Under current conditions, no convincing sign of such readiness is observed. No message has been sent to the U.S.”
According to Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the experience of the past year has shown that the US understanding of negotiations is not dialogue, but imposition and dictation. Real negotiations are only possible when the other side changes its approach and agrees to a fair, balanced dialogue on an equal footing.
He added: It is obvious that goals not achieved through pressure and military action cannot be imposed at the negotiating table either. The negotiating table must be based on mutual respect, balance, and securing shared interests.
The European Troika No Longer Has Any Capacity for Negotiations
The Iranian foreign minister also said that the three European countries no longer have any capacity for negotiations, and that by illegally activating the snapback mechanism, the European troika has effectively lost its last negotiating tool and capacity; therefore, Iran sees no reason to resume talks with these three countries.
Araghchi said: While Iran remains committed to its obligations under the NPT, it emphasizes that recent attacks on nuclear facilities have changed the realities on the ground, and the Agency lacks the necessary protocols to inspect the attacked sites.
The bilateral meeting between Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on December 17. Social media/ WANA News Agency
He stressed that until new frameworks are defined to address safety and security threats, inspections are not possible.
Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: Given the annulment of the Cairo Agreement following hostile actions by the West, and in accordance with parliamentary law, decision-making regarding Agency requests will rest exclusively with the Supreme National Security Council.
Lavrov: Iran–Russia Relations Have Strengthened Significantly
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, at the joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi, also pointed to the development of relations between Tehran and Moscow in recent years, emphasizing that these relations have strengthened significantly.
Lavrov noted that the strategic partnership treaty between Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, signed and made effective by Presidents Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian, has also been approved by Iran’s president.
He added: At the recent meeting of the two presidents in Ashgabat, tasks and objectives were defined, and the two sides agreed that implementing this treaty would enhance coordination and bilateral cooperation at international and regional levels and increase the two countries’ capacity to ensure and strengthen security in the shared region.
The bilateral meeting between Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on December 17. Social media/ WANA News Agency
The Russian foreign minister also referred to the characteristics of political dialogue between the two countries, saying that these interactions are ongoing at the highest level, at the inter-ministerial level, and through contacts between civil society circles, strengthening the foundations of good neighborly relations between Iran and Russia.
In another part of his remarks, Lavrov addressed trade, economic, and investment cooperation between the two countries, stating that the trend has been positive, with the volume of trade in the first ten months of the current year increasing by more than 10 percent, while over the past ten years, trade growth has exceeded 15 percent.
Lavrov: Globalization Under Western Policies Is Collapsing
In comments on the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov emphasized that Western countries are trying to misuse all instruments of international law to their advantage, actions that have nothing to do with the real principles of international law.
He described this approach as a reflection of Western neo-colonial policies, saying: They are accustomed to sustaining their lives at the expense of others, an approach that has continued since the era of traditional colonialism and today persists in the form of colonial-type economic dependencies with some African and Asian countries.
The bilateral meeting between Iranian FM Seyed Abbas Araghchi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on December 17. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Lavrov added: We condemn the West’s illegal and unilateral sanctions, as these measures undermine international relations.
According to him, in the Ukraine crisis as well, Europeans are trying to undermine the policies of the Trump administration and ignore the prevailing principles of international law.
He noted that these actions even destroy principles previously accepted by Europeans themselves, and that in the process of globalization, fragmentation, and collapse of these trends are now being witnessed.
