Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks in an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of the 2025 Doha Forum on Sunday.
Zarif told Anadolu that Israel had underestimated Iran’s resilience in resuming the conflict.
He stressed that Israel’s recent war with Iran was the result of a “miscalculation,” warning that any future invasion would provoke Iranian self-defense and that detente would ultimately be “in Iran’s best interest.”
“I think the Israelis started this invasion against us based on a miscalculation, and in the end they realized that the resistance of the Iranian people would prevent them from achieving their goals, which is why they ended the war,” he said.
Zarif said Iran has no interest in pursuing hostilities but has the ability to respond if attacked.
“Israel knows that Iran can cause harm, but Iran has no interest in doing so for any purpose other than self-defense, so it’s best for them if Iran stands still and forgets about future aggression.”
The 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel broke out on June 13, 2025, after Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities killed several senior nuclear scientists and military personnel.
More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear facilities, in serious violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
Iranian forces responded by attacking strategic locations throughout the occupied territories and the largest US military installation in West Asia, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
On June 24, Iran announced that its illegal attacks had ceased due to retaliatory operations against Israel and the United States.
MNA