WANA (Jun 02) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart in Cairo, emphasized that nuclear enrichment is Iran’s inalienable right under international treaties and warned that any Israeli attack on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities would be a grave international crime that would backfire on Israel itself.

 

He announced that he held a meeting in Cairo with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. He criticized the latest Agency report, cautioning that Western pressure must not compromise the IAEA’s independence and technical integrity.

 

“Mr. Grossi came to Egypt for another issue, and we discussed Iran’s nuclear file and negotiations. Western pressure should not influence the IAEA. The agency must maintain its independent and technical identity. Some countries aim to pressure Iran via the IAEA, and we hope the agency does not fall into this trap,” he said.

 

Iran Does Not Pursue Nuclear Weapons

Araghchi reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful, stating, “We have nothing to hide,” and that Iran will continue negotiations to uphold the Iranian nation’s rights. “From our perspective, not only is diplomacy the best option—it is the only solution.”

 

“If the goal of the negotiations is to ensure Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons, we can reach an agreement. But if the aim is to deprive Iran of its peaceful nuclear activities, there will be no deal,” he added.

 

“We have never left the negotiating table in our effort to prove the peaceful nature of our nuclear program,” he said. “We will not accept any demand that contradicts the rights of the Iranian people.”

 

The Iranian Foreign Minister reiterated Iran’s demand for sanctions removal: “Our main demand in these negotiations is the lifting of cruel sanctions against the Iranian nation.”

 

U.S. Proposal and Snapback Mechanism

Addressing the U.S. proposal, Araghchi stated that Iran will deliver an appropriate response based on its national principles, and warned that no agreement would be possible without respecting Iran’s right to enrich uranium.

 

On the “snapback” mechanism, he cautioned European states not to repeat past mistakes, calling it a “wrong policy that would escalate current crises.”

 

On Israel’s recent threats, Araghchi said, “Any strike against our peaceful nuclear facilities would be a major international crime. I doubt Israel would take such a reckless step, as it would suffer the most.”

 

He also criticized double standards on nuclear non-proliferation, stating that the U.S. and its allies are the real violators of the NPT, with increasing stockpiles of nuclear weapons in violation of their disarmament commitments. “Nuclear threats are not just against Iran—they target the Palestinian people too. This hypocrisy undermines international law,” he added.

 

We Welcome the Idea of a Nuclear-Free Middle East

Araghchi also emphasized: “We welcome the idea of a nuclear-free region and were among the initiators of this idea. We are committed to achieving it.”

 

Seyed Abbas Araghchi expressed his gratitude for meeting with Egypt’s President and stated that he has visited Egypt twice and his counterpart has visited Iran twice as well, said: “Iran and Egypt play an important role in establishing peace and security in the region, and the determination of both countries’ officials is directed toward that goal.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi with his Egyptian counterpart during a joint press conference on June 02, 2025. Social media/ WANA News Agency

He continued, “We seek to expand relations with Egypt, and there is a strong will among both countries’ officials to do so. Currently, there is a high level of mutual trust, and the momentum for expanding ties is greater than ever.”

 

No Obstacles to Developing Relations with Egypt

“There are no obstacles to developing relations with Egypt,” Araghchi said. “We are working to remove some of the existing barriers, and this may happen in the coming weeks.”

 

Agreement to Expand Tourism Between the Two Countries

He added: “The path for expanding ties between the two countries is more open than ever. We agreed to increase tourism exchanges between Iran and Egypt.”

 

We Support an Immediate and Lasting Ceasefire in Gaza

The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that “Iran-Egypt cooperation in international organizations and on regional issues has increased, and we seek to deepen it further. There is shared political will for that.”

 

He added that during today’s meetings, discussions were held on regional and climate-related issues. “We consulted on Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria and emphasized the need to stop and confront the crimes of the Zionist regime, and to support the Palestinian cause and the rights of the Palestinian people.”

 

He continued: “We appreciate the efforts of Egypt and Qatar to establish a ceasefire, and we support any ceasefire that the people of Gaza endorse.”

 

He reiterated his appreciation for Egyptian and Qatari mediation efforts and said: “We hope an immediate and lasting ceasefire will be established soon, prisoners exchanged, and humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza. We wish our friends in Egypt success in their efforts on this matter.”

 

We Support the Legitimate Efforts of Ansarullah in the Region

In another part of the press conference, Araghchi stated: “We held extensive talks on Yemen and the Red Sea. Naturally, just like Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Ansarullah is an independent group that makes its own decisions. We support their legitimate efforts in the region, but this does not mean that Iran commands or controls them. They have goals that they pursue independently, and we hope they succeed in achieving them.”

 

He added: “The Yemeni people have clearly stated that their support is for the people of Palestine and Gaza. They have also said that if a ceasefire is implemented, their operations in the Red Sea will stop.” “Their operations target Israeli ships or vessels headed toward Israel,” he emphasized.

 

“We support the establishment of peace and stability in the region,” Araghchi noted, “and we hope regional issues will be resolved through dialogue.”

 

Araghchi Meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi / WANA News Agency

Araghchi Meets with Egyptian President

WANA (Jun 02) – Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, currently in Cairo for an official visit, met Monday morning with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and key regional and international developments.   Araghchi conveyed warm greetings from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to his Egyptian counterpart […]

Read More...

 

We Agreed to Continue Political Consultations with Egypt

Discussing bilateral ties, Araghchi said: “We agreed to maintain ongoing and regular political consultations between the two countries.” He added: “We agreed to increase trade volume and tourism exchange between our countries.”

 

Araghchi thanked Egypt for supporting the nuclear negotiations, saying: “I will visit other countries in the region and brief them on the negotiations.”

 

No Hurry in Ambassadors’ Exchange with Egypt

The Iranian Foreign Minister also responded to a question during the meeting regarding bilateral relations between Iran and Egypt and the exchange of ambassadors between the two countries, saying: “Iran’s foreign policy priority is to have good relations with the Persian Gulf countries and the region. In this framework, we are working to develop our relations.”

 

He continued: “It is true that we have not exchanged ambassadors with Egypt so far, but we are working to establish common positions on regional and international issues.”

Araghchi emphasized: “We will take action to exchange ambassadors at the appropriate time, and we are not in a hurry in this regard. Whenever our brothers in Egypt are ready, we are ready too. This issue is not a decisive point in our relations, and our relations are progressing well.”