TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragci reiterated that the nuclear agreement with Western countries is conditioned on full recognition of Iran’s right to enrich uranium, stressing that diplomacy remains a favorable route to resolve tensions.
Speaking at a joint press conference held in Cairo with his Egyptian counterpart, Araguchi is working on major regional and international issues, including the Gaza crisis, Iran’s nuclear program and the path to Tehran-Cairo relations.
In response to the latest written proposal from the US on stagnant nuclear negotiations, Aragut said Tehran would soon bring about a “appropriate response.” However, he made it clear that Iran’s intransitable rights to enrich uranium under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) must be fully respected for an agreement to advance.
“We are ready to assure the world that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons,” he said. “But if the purpose of the negotiation is to strip Iran of peaceful nuclear rights, then there is no deal.”
He emphasized that uranium enrichment was a major scientific achievement achieved through the efforts of Iranian scientists, and that the country paid high prices for this. “This right cannot be negotiated,” he added.
Touching the potential use of so-called “snapback mechanisms” by European parties, Araguchi warned against such a move, calling it a serious mistake that only deepened existing tensions.
Meanwhile, at another meeting on the sidelines of his visit, in response to the request of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director Rafael Grossi, Aragucci criticised the “bassed accusations” in the agency’s latest report on Iran’s nuclear activities. He reminded Grossi of the IAEA’s responsibility to carry out his duties professionally and impartially.
“The credibility of an institution should not be compromised by the political agenda and pressure of a particular member state,” he argued.
Iran encourages collective action from Islamic countries to stop the Israeli war in Gaza
In his remarks, Aragut strongly condemned Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. He called on the international Muslim community to take “collective and effective” measures to stop Israeli crimes in Gaza and to stop the ongoing occupation of parts of Lebanon and Syria.
“The people of Gaza have fallen in unimaginable pain. Since October 7th, more than 54,000 have been killed and more than 124,000 have been injured.
Aragichi emphasized Iran’s full support for a ceasefire that reflects the will of the Palestinian people, and praised Egypt and Qatar for its efforts to secure a ceasefire and promote humanitarian aid. He also supported prisoner exchanges and unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
“There is no barrier to progress,” Aragut encourages deepening relations between Iran and Egypt
Regarding bilateral relations, Araguchi highlighted the common resolve between Tehran and Cairo to strengthen cooperation. He said he expressed hope that there are no serious obstacles currently to prevent the expansion of bonds and that the remaining issues will be resolved soon.
“Iran and Egypt are two influential countries with ancient civilizations,” he said. “We have agreed to continue political consultations, expand trade ties and expand tourism exchanges.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fatta El-Sisi, whom Aragut met during his visit, repeated his emotions. He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to regional peace and emphasized the need to protect the interests of Muslim countries. President Sisi also called for continued high-level dialogue between Iran and Egypt and close coordination on regional issues.
Iran’s foreign minister also discussed indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, which were reportedly mediated by Oman during his meeting with President Sisi. These talks came amid rising regional tensions and renewed international attention to Iran’s nuclear file.
Before departing on the next leg of his regional tour in Lebanon, Aragut had a detailed discussion with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatti, focusing on regional development and bilateral cooperation.
Mohammad Hossein Soltani Fard, head of Cairo’s Iran’s interests section, said on Sunday that Araguchi’s visit was in line with Iran’s broader diplomatic strategy aimed at dealing with regional conflicts, including the wars of Gaza, Sudan and Libyan.
He emphasized that Iran and Egypt’s relations have shown stable progress, with regular diplomatic exchanges and serious debate between the two countries’ foreign ministries.