WANA (Feb 08) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran remains firmly committed to diplomacy while maintaining full defensive readiness, stressing that military pressure or threats will not alter Iran’s strategic calculations.

 

Speaking at Iran’s National Congress on Foreign Policy, Araghchi said the current military posture of rival forces in the region does not intimidate Iran. “We are not seeking war,” he said, “but we are fully prepared to defend ourselves so that no one dares to wage war against Iran.”

 

Araghchi framed Iran’s foreign policy as rooted in independence, dignity, and rational engagement, arguing that these principles are inseparable from the country’s modern history. He said decades of foreign interference prior to the 1979 revolution created a deep national demand for genuine sovereignty, a demand that later became embedded in Iran’s constitution and continues to shape its external relations.

 

According to the foreign minister, understanding Iran’s insistence on resisting external pressure is essential to understanding its behavior on the global stage. “Without recognizing the principle of rejecting domination and preserving national dignity,” he said, “Iran’s foreign policy over the past four decades cannot be properly understood.”

 

Turning to Iran’s nuclear program, Araghchi said Tehran’s insistence on maintaining uranium enrichment is not merely a technical or economic issue, but a matter of national sovereignty. He emphasized that Iran has paid a heavy price to develop a peaceful nuclear program that serves long-term needs in energy, agriculture, healthcare, and scientific advancement.

 

He reiterated that Iran is ready to address any questions or concerns regarding the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, but stressed that reassurance can only be achieved through diplomacy. “Military attacks, sanctions, and pressure have all been tried before and have failed,” Araghchi said. “Facilities can be bombed, but knowledge and technology cannot be eliminated.”

 

Referring directly to ongoing talks with the United States, Araghchi said Washington’s return to negotiations reflects the failure of non-diplomatic approaches. He added that negotiations can only succeed if Iran’s legitimate rights are respected. “Iran is not asking for its rights to be recognized,” he said. “Those rights already exist. What we demand is respect for them.”

 

Araghchi rejected allegations that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, arguing that the real concern among some global powers is not a nuclear bomb but Iran’s ability to resist coercion. “Iran’s real power lies in its capacity to say no to pressure and domination,” he said.

 

He also pointed to Iran’s recent confrontation, known domestically as the “12 day war,” saying that resistance prevented a lasting stain on the country’s history. According to Araghchi, yielding under military pressure would have sent a message that Iran could be forced into submission through limited strikes and threats.

 

In closing, Araghchi said Iran’s approach remains clear: engagement through dialogue when met with respect, and firm resistance when confronted with coercion. “If diplomacy is chosen, Iran will pursue diplomacy,” he said. “If the language of force is used, Iran will respond accordingly.”

 

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