WANA (Aug 23) – Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, in response to phone calls from his British and French counterparts, emphasized the Islamic Republic of Iran’s undeniable right to respond to the criminal and terrorist act carried out by the Zionist regime in Tehran.

 

Stéphane Séjourné, the French Foreign Minister, congratulated Araghchi on his appointment as Foreign Minister during their phone call and expressed France’s readiness to continue diplomatic consultations with Iran on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

 

The French Foreign Minister highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and stressed the importance of dialogue with all parties to reduce tensions and achieve peace. He expressed hope that bilateral consultations toward this goal would continue.

 

Araghchi, in turn, thanked his French counterpart for the congratulations and emphasized the historical ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and France. He also expressed Tehran’s readiness to strengthen constructive dialogue to expand cooperation.

 

Referring to the complexities of the West Asian region and the policies and actions of the Zionist regime aimed at escalating tensions and spreading instability throughout the region, Araghchi called on France and other Western parties to focus on the sole culprit of the situation, namely the Zionist regime, to prevent further conflict and increased tensions.

 

Araghchi described the criminal act of the Zionist occupying regime in assassinating a political leader of Hamas in Tehran as an unforgivable violation of Iran’s security and sovereignty, stressing Iran’s right to punish the aggressor.

 

Similarly, David Lammy, the British Foreign Minister, also held a phone conversation with Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, congratulating him on his appointment as Foreign Minister. He saw the start of Iran’s 14th government as a new opportunity to increase diplomatic consultations between the two countries.

 

Lammy, referring to the developments in Gaza, called for Iran’s role in reducing tensions in the region.

 

Araghchi, while thanking his British counterpart for the call, described the bilateral cooperation over the past years as turbulent, stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not seek to escalate war or increase tensions in the region but will not forgo its undeniable right to respond to the criminal and terrorist act of the Zionist regime in Tehran.

 

During this phone conversation, both sides also discussed several issues of mutual interest, including negotiations related to lifting sanctions, and emphasized their desire to continue consultations.