Araghchi: Iran will fight fire with fire
Tehran - BORNA - Speaking at a consultative meeting with participants of the 40th International Islamic Unity Conference, Araghchi referred to the country’s situation following the 12-day war and the developments during the recent US-Israeli aggression.
“Our enemies believed that their defeat in the previous war had failed to undermine the unity of the Iranian people. Therefore, they began plotting to create divisions within the country, sent armed groups, and sought to undermine the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic by creating insecurity and staging casualties,” he explained.
The US and Israel launched their illegal war of aggression against Iran on February 28 by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders.
Forty days later, on April 8, the enemies were forced to accept a ceasefire amid Iran’s resistance, successful retaliatory operations, and a powerful grip on the Strait of Hormuz.
He stressed that even with the loss of the martyred leader, “this tree was not damaged.”
The enemy sought to push Iran toward “regime change” but failed, he said. “It also attempted to partition the country and failed again, while efforts to silence Iran’s missile fire were likewise unsuccessful.”
“Ultimately, they had no option but to negotiate,” Araghchi said.
Referring to the consequences of the recent war for regional countries, the foreign minister said one of its most important outcomes was that regional states realized US military bases in their countries had failed to provide security.
“They realized that the United States is primarily seeking to support the Zionist regime, rather than defend them,” he said.
Araghchi said Iran had targeted US positions in response to American attacks, rather than attacking friendly and brotherly countries.
“The United States had attacked targets in our country, and we responded by attacking American targets,” he said. “Wherever there is an American base, it can be targeted, and our forces will defend the country.”
He said regional countries had realized that they could not tie their security to the United States and were therefore increasingly seeking greater cooperation and coordination with one another. “This shows that many of them have lost hope in the United States,” Araghchi said.
Highlighting Iran’s defense capabilities, Araghchi said the war demonstrated that Iran had developed its missiles relying on its own capabilities and that the country depended on domestic weapons, technology and capabilities to ensure its security.
He added that the United States had been unable to counter Iranian missiles, saying images of missiles striking US bases in the region demonstrated Washington’s inability to prevent Iranian missile attacks.
Araghchi also referred to the reaction of Muslim communities around the world to recent developments, saying the war had demonstrated that people across the Islamic world understood the facts.
“The positions adopted by various governments and the expressions of affection toward us were, in fact, expressions of affection toward the Iranian people,” he said.
The foreign minister stressed that Iran remained committed to three principles: no one had the right to diminish the country’s dignity, and the Islamic Republic would not yield to the excessive demands of others. Just as Iran defended the country on the battlefield, he said, it would defend the interests and dignity of the Iranian people through diplomacy.
“We do not joke about the security of the country, and our fighters will respond to any attack,” Araghchi said. He added that the enemies had become discouraged from continuing the war and had once again turned to economic pressure.
“Just as we stood against US sanctions during the Obama era, we will resist the new sanctions as well,” he said. “We have seen Obama and Trump, and we have witnessed the arrogant nature and American mentality in all of them.”
Araghchi also emphasized Iran’s policy of expanding ties with Islamic countries, saying Tehran sought friendly relations with all Muslim countries, particularly its neighbors, while pursuing broader economic relations with the Islamic world.
“We seek good-neighborly relations with our neighbors and appropriate and constructive relations with all countries in West Asia,” he said.
He noted that “From Turkey and Iraq to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to expand relations based on mutual respect and mutual interests.”
End Article