Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed on Sunday that despite recent attacks by the United States and Israel, diplomacy remains the ultimate path to resolving international disputes. Speaking at the international conference “International Law Under Attack: Aggression and Defense” in Tehran, he said a new call for negotiations had begun and stressed that Iran’s nuclear program cannot be resolved militarily.
Speaking during a panel discussion hosted by Kazem Sajjadpour, Aragushi said the recent military attacks on Iran were an attack on diplomacy itself and “hit the very negotiating table between Iran and the United States.” He stressed that while the attack raised pressing challenges, it also reaffirmed that diplomacy is the only option.
Aragushi noted that the intended goals of the US and Israeli regimes, including the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, had not been achieved. “The facilities may be destroyed, but the technology cannot be erased with airstrikes, and the will of the Iranian people will only strengthen.” He added that these realities led to a new call for negotiations, as the attackers’ military approach proved ineffective.
The foreign minister emphasized the fundamental principle of diplomacy that negotiations should not be imposed by force. “The first step in diplomacy is to accept that negotiation is different from dictation. It requires interaction and consideration of common interests.” Mr. Araguchi emphasized that diplomacy should be conducted with logic, reason, and seriousness, not coercion.
Araghchi further recalled Iran’s honest track record in negotiations, including the 2015 JCPOA agreement. He accused the United States of repeatedly betraying the diplomatic process, first by unilaterally withdrawing from the JCPOA despite Iran’s full compliance, and then by direct attacks on Iranian territory.
“It was never Iran that abandoned diplomacy,” he said, adding that it was the United States and Western powers that consistently tried to impose their will at the negotiating table. “In my opinion, diplomacy is still alive and well and remains the ultimate solution to resolving conflicts, but its standards, rules and principles must be adhered to.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi continued speaking at the conference, saying the United States and others need to understand that there is no way to resolve issues with the Islamic Republic of Iran other than through diplomacy and the use of language of respect and dignity. “If they speak to the Iranian people with respect and dignity, they will receive the same in return. As we demonstrated in the 2013-2015 nuclear negotiations, then we will be spoken to with respect and responded with respect.” , and the negotiations were successful because the principles of the negotiations were followed. But if a different approach or language is used against the Iranian people, the Iranian people will react in the same way. This is what happened during the 12-day war.
MNA/