In a meeting with ambassadors and foreign representatives, Abbas Araghchi thanked all countries that condemned the blatant aggression of the Zionist regime and the U.S. against Iran and expressed sympathy with Iran’s government and people.
He added that the attacks by the U.S. and the Zionist regime on Iran were violations of international law. The minister said it is unfortunate that some countries did not condemn these aggressions.
120 countries condemned the Israeli and U.S. invasion of Iran
Araghchi said that nearly 120 countries condemned the Zionist regime and the U.S.’s invasion of Iran.
The officials said that “Unfortunately, the Security Council did not condemn the attack,” and added that the UN Board of Governors was not even ready to condemn these invasions. Iran’s nuclear facilities were damaged as a result of these attacks, but the Non-Proliferation Treaty and international law were harmed even more.”
Our collaboration with the IAEA continues
Araghchi said that Iran was a committed member of the NPT and has collaborated with the agency. He said our collaboration with the agency has not stopped—only its form has changed. From now on, Iran’s collaboration with the IAEA will be conducted through Iran’s National Security Council, the official said.
Araghchi said that the agency’s request for Iran’s continued cooperation with the IAEA will be studied by Iran’s National Security Council.
Security and safety of IAEA inspectors is a priority in the nuclear sites that were under attack
Araghchi continued: “It is a reality that our nuclear facilities have been attacked, and going near them may put lives in danger due to the emission of radioactive material or the explosion of war residue. Therefore, in our view, providing the security and safety of the inspectors is of high importance.”
No way other than returning to diplomacy
In another part of his remarks, Araghchi said, “There is no way other than returning to diplomacy.” Araghchi said that the recent war showed that there is no single negotiated or agreed resolution. “Iran is still ready to give assurance through diplomacy. However, the other parties must ensure us that they want to pursue diplomacy as well and that diplomacy is not a cover-up for their goals.”
Using Snapback will end the role of Europe in Iran’s nuclear issue
Araghchi said that “We were consulting and interacting with three European countries (Germany, France, and the UK) while we were negotiating with the U.S.” Araghchi said that European countries are wrong to think that snapback is a tool in their hands that gives them the upper hand to play a role in Iran’s nuclear issue. “If these countries move towards using snapback, the resolution of Iran’s nuclear case will become more complicated and harder. This is what the Americans did with a military option. All these make negotiation and diplomacy harder.”
Iran’s right to enrichment must be respected in any negotiation
Iran’s foreign minister said, “We emphasize that in any resolution and negotiation, the Iranian people’s right in the nuclear issue, including the right to enrichment, must be respected. Enrichment is the achievement of Iran’s prominent scientists. We will safeguard this achievement. Iran endured many pressures to preserve this achievement, and the recent war was imposed on us.”
Our military capabilities will not be the subject of any negotiation
Araghchi said that Iran will preserve its military capabilities under any condition, and in the recent war it showed its military power very well. “These capabilities are non-negotiable.”
We consider nuclear weapons both un-Islamic and inhumane
In another part of his remarks, Araghchi said, “For more than 20 years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been trying to prove that its nuclear program is peaceful to countries that are concerned. We have tested all paths to prove that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful, based on the Leader of the Islamic Revolution’s fatwa. If we had any intention to make a nuclear weapon, we would have made it by now. And maybe, currently, we have the best reason to do so. But we adhere to the principles that are derived from our Islamic and humanitarian beliefs. For us, nuclear weapons are not only inhumane but also un-Islamic, based on our Leader’s fatwa.”
