Tehran - BORNA - Seyyed Kamal Kharazi, the Head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, spoke on Sunday at the closing ceremony of the international conference, "International Law Under Attack: Aggression and Defense," held at the Foreign Ministry’s Institute for Political and International Studies.
Kharazi, the former Iranian Foreign Minister, said: "Unfortunately, in the international arena, and despite efforts made, the rule of law has currently turned into the rule of force, particularly with the arrival of Trump, who has no belief in international law whatsoever."
Referring to the current ineffectiveness of the United Nations against the bullying of certain powers, he noted: "Unfortunately, the UN is currently in a position where it cannot stand against the decisions of some powers that violate international law."
Kharazi pointed out that "there are common aspects between the eight-year [Iran-Iraq] war and the 12-day aggression," emphasizing: "In the eight-year war, it was the people's resilience, cohesion, and endurance that led to our victory; it was the will and determination of our armed forces that stood against the enemy and defended the country. We witnessed the same in the 12-day aggression, and the people's endurance and cohesion were highly effective. The enemies intended to cause a collapse in the country, but Iranians both inside and outside the country demonstrated their unity and opposition to the enemy."
The Advisor to the Supreme Leader also cited "self-reliance" as another commonality between the two conflicts, adding: "No one helped us in the eight-year war, and we stood against the enemies by relying on our own capabilities. The same happened in the 12-day aggression."
Kharazi noted that "during the recent aggression, the UN offered no help to Iran, and the UN Secretary-General merely urged restraint on both sides," stressing that the UN did not play the prominent role it should have in these developments.
He continued: "These developments showed that Iranians will not submit to humiliation, they stand against coercion, and they will not trade their independence for anything. Iranians are self-reliant, and in addition to relying on their own capabilities, they are people of dialogue, negotiation, and discussion, which they have shown at various junctures."
The former Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic emphasized: "Iran will not bargain its independence with anyone, and unlike countries willing to sell their independence, Iran will never surrender."
Referring to statements by some Western thinkers and officials regarding Iranian resilience and endurance, Kharazi said: "Even the enemies admit that Iran will endure, the Iranian people are resilient, and they will not surrender."
Kharazi then highlighted some differences between the eight-year war and the 12-day aggression, stating: "The US President has recently accepted responsibility for the Israeli regime's attack on Iran. Given this confession, the US must accept the legal responsibility for this issue, and it is Iran's right to claim its rights in response to this aggression and demand that the US pay compensation for the financial, human, and psychological damages caused by this aggression."
The Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations said: "Americans and Westerners must understand that peace is not achieved through bullying, and Iran stands against coercion."
Kharazi continued: "We have always insisted on negotiations based on mutual respect and equality, but the Americans are not prepared for such talks. They want to impose their demands and, in fact, use military and economic pressure to advance their goals. This approach is rejected, and Iranians will not tolerate it; they will resist bullying."
The Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations further stated: "One of the current problems of the US is that Mr. Trump lacked a diplomatic background, and his team also lacked such experience. Most of his team were TV hosts and showmen who imagined that the arena of politics and diplomacy was like a television stage, manageable with shows and theatrical posturing."
Kharazi referred to the background of former US presidents, saying: "Although some of them, like Reagan and Carter, lacked a diplomatic background, they had gained state governance experience before entering the White House, and powerful teams were alongside them. In contrast, Trump was the yardstick, and his team is largely devoid of diplomatic experience."
He cited the recent behavior of the US Secretary of War before the Iraqi elections as an example of this inexperience, adding: "The direct and impolite threat against Al-Hashd Al-Sha'abi (PMF) by Washington not only yielded no result but was met with a reaction from the Iraqi people, resulting in a widespread turnout in the elections that led to the victory of the resistance forces."
The Head of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations emphasized: "This type of incorrect approach in diplomacy, just like the US pressures against Iran, results in nothing but the resistance of nations. The Iranian people will not submit to bullying and will stand against pressures."
Kharazi also referred to regional developments, stating: "The crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza with US support, including ruthless killing and the use of famine as a weapon, can never destroy the will of the Palestinian nation. Similarly, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Ansarullah in Yemen, and Al-Hashd Al-Sha'abi in Iraq are persistent despite external pressures and will not be eliminated."
He noted: "Ups and downs are natural in struggle, but the will of nations to defend their homeland and ideals cannot be destroyed by force and weapons. This is the result of the emergence of the Islamic Revolution in our country."
Kharazi continued: "Trump's predecessors experienced that Iran will not be eliminated by force and is determined in defending its rights, which we observed in the nuclear issue. In this regard, I advise Trump to study and review the experience of his predecessors, and just as they were forced to accept the Islamic Republic of Iran as an independent and resilient country, you too will be forced to accept this reality."
Addressing Trump, he said: "Come and conduct real negotiations with Iran; negotiations based on mutual respect and the principle of equality. We are not afraid of negotiation, but we will not engage in talks based on coercion and war, and we advise US officials to adopt a positive approach based on the principles mentioned."
The Supreme Leader's Advisor concluded: "We will not abandon uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes, we will not relinquish our defensive power, and we will not sell our independence."
End Article