Araghchi: We will continue our legitimate defense with strength

Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Foreign Minister, on Sunday, 15 June, addressing ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, and heads of foreign and international representations in Tehran, said that the Zionist regime began attacking various targets in Iran without any prior pretext or context starting Friday morning.

He added: This is considered a blatant aggression against Iranian soil; various targets were attacked, the most significant being the Natanz nuclear facilities and some targets in Tehran and residential areas, which led to the martyrdom of many civilians in Tehran and other cities. 

He continued: Several university professors, nuclear scientists, and military commanders who were not engaged in combat and were at their homes were martyred in these attacks. This occurred while we were on the verge of the sixth round of negotiations. Israel knows no boundaries; the actions against Iran include multiple incidents, many of which have harmed children and civilians. While negotiations with the U.S. were ongoing, the sixth round was scheduled for today, Sunday. International law does not justify such actions. 

The Foreign Minister said: All of you have witnessed that not only have innocent Palestinian people been victims of human rights violations, but new red lines have also been drawn in these circumstances. 

Dragging conflict to the Persian Gulf is a strategic mistake

The Foreign Minister, stating that Iran’s attacks on military and economic targets in occupied Palestinian territories are solely in self-defense and in response to the Zionist regime’s aggressions, said: On the first night, we targeted only military objectives, but since the Zionist regime attacked economic targets yesterday, including Tehran’s refinery and some areas in Asaluyeh, we have also targeted the regime’s economic targets, including its refineries, since last night. 

Araghchi said: The attack on Iran’s Asaluyeh region is a blatant aggression and a highly dangerous act. Dragging the conflict to the Persian Gulf is a major strategic mistake, likely carried out deliberately to expand the war beyond Iran’s borders. The Persian Gulf is a highly sensitive and complex region, and any military escalation there could involve not only the region but the entire world. 

The Foreign Minister expressed hope that the international community would act swiftly to stop these crimes and aggressions. 

Zionist regime crossed a new red line in international law

Regarding the Zionist regime’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the Foreign Minister stated: This regime crossed a new red line in international law by attacking nuclear facilities, which is a grave violation internationally and prohibited under any circumstances, yet it was unfortunately met with indifference by the UN Security Council. 

He added: Many countries, especially in the region, condemned the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly the attack on nuclear facilities. I thank all the ambassadors present and their countries that condemned this aggression. However, some European countries, which claim to uphold civilization and international law, instead of condemning Israel, condemned Iran for being subjected to aggression. 

Araghchi also said: Our response to these attacks has been based on the principle of self-defense, a recognized principle in international relations and the legitimate right of any country to defend itself against aggression. This is what our armed forces began two nights ago, and last night you witnessed its broader dimensions, which will continue. 

IAEA Board of Governors should condemn Zionist attack on nuclear facilities

Araghchi, emphasizing that our legitimate defense will continue with strength and that the armed forces will fulfill their duties with authority, said: Regarding the attack on the Natanz nuclear facilities, I have requested the IAEA Director General to hold an extraordinary meeting on this matter. This meeting will be held on Monday, and we hope the IAEA Board of Governors will firmly condemn the Zionist regime’s attack on nuclear facilities as a clear violation of international law. 

He requested ambassadors of IAEA Board member states to convey this issue to their capitals, saying: Our expectation, and that of the international community, is a firm condemnation of this attack on nuclear facilities and even punishment of the Zionist regime for this action. This attack may be the last red line of international law that the Zionist regime has violated. If the international community remains indifferent to these red lines, the consequences will undoubtedly affect other countries as well. 

Zionist regime opposes negotiation and diplomacy

The Foreign Minister, emphasizing that we absolutely do not want this war to spread to other countries or the region unless imposed upon us, said: We did not start this war and were pursuing diplomacy regarding our nuclear program, but this aggression was imposed on us. We are defending ourselves, and this defense is entirely legitimate. We will defend ourselves with strength, and this defense is solely a response to aggressions. Therefore, if the aggression stops, our reactions will naturally stop as well. 

Araghchi, noting that the sixth round of nuclear negotiations was scheduled to take place in Muscat today, said: As we have repeatedly stated, we are fully confident in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program and have no issue proving this trust to the world, as we did in the 2015 nuclear agreement. 

He added: We are ready for any agreement aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as it is our ideological principle that nuclear weapons are forbidden and haram. However, if the goal of an agreement is to deprive Iran of its legitimate nuclear rights, naturally, we are not ready for such an agreement. 

The Foreign Minister continued: With this logic, we entered negotiations with the U.S. and have held five rounds so far. In the sixth round, we were set to present our proposed plan for a potential agreement to the American side. In the previous round, the U.S. proposal had flaws and was unacceptable to us. We conveyed our views and prepared a counterproposal to be presented today. We believe this proposal could have paved the way for an agreement. 

He stated: It is entirely clear that the Zionist regime not only does not want any agreement on the nuclear issue but is also opposed to negotiation and diplomacy. The aggression against Iran in the midst of nuclear negotiations is proof that the Zionist regime opposes any talks. 

U.S. is a partner of the Zionist regime

The head of the diplomatic apparatus, stating that the Zionist regime’s aggression against Iran could never have occurred without U.S. agreement and support, said: We have solid evidence showing the support of U.S. forces and U.S. bases in the region for the Zionist regime’s military attacks. We have closely monitored these movements and continue to do so, and we have ample evidence showing how U.S. forces assisted the Zionist regime. 

Araghchi asserted: More significant than all this evidence are the statements of the U.S. President, who explicitly declared his support in his tweets. He clearly stated that these attacks would not have been possible without U.S. equipment and announced that further steps are planned. Therefore, in our view, the U.S. is a partner in these attacks and must take responsibility. However, in response to the Zionist regime’s attacks, we have focused on targets within the Zionist regime. 

U.S. government should clearly condemn attack on nuclear facilities

The Foreign Minister, referring to the events of spring 2021, said: When we were negotiating in Vienna to revive the JCPOA, in the midst of talks, the Zionist regime carried out a sabotage attack on Natanz’s enrichment facilities. In that attack, the facility’s power infrastructure was bombed, and due to the power outage, many centrifuges were damaged. 

He continued: Their main goal was to disrupt the negotiations. In response, we announced that we would increase our enrichment level to 60%. This decision by the Islamic Republic of Iran to begin 60% enrichment was a direct response to the Zionist regime’s sabotage in Natanz. Afterward, all damaged centrifuges in Natanz were replaced with more advanced ones. 

Araghchi added: The current action was also carried out precisely to undermine diplomacy and negotiations. We know that the U.S. government was complicit in this action. Over the past two days, we received messages from the U.S. through various channels claiming they had no involvement in this attack and will not have any. 

The head of the diplomatic apparatus said: We do not believe this claim, as we have evidence to the contrary. If the U.S. government truly makes such a claim, it must state its position clearly and publicly. Private messages are not enough. The U.S. government must transparently condemn the attack on nuclear facilities. Such an action is condemnable under international law, and we expect the U.S. government, to prove its good faith, to explicitly condemn the attack on peaceful nuclear facilities and distance itself from this matter. 

He expressed hope that the international community would pay sufficient attention to this issue and respond appropriately to the Zionist regime’s crimes and aggressions, which have violated all principles of international law. This is the best way to establish peace in the region and the world.