Iran FM Araghchi says Iran will not surrender to US power, calls nuclear issue a pretext

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran will never surrender under any circumstances, in an exclusive interview with the Iraqi Al-Akhbariyah Media Network late on Tuesday. He said the core of the dispute between Washington and Tehran is American opposition to Iran's Islamic establishment and its refusal to accept US dominance, adding that the nuclear issue serves only as a pretext.

Araghchi said Washington has rejected an outlook centered on resisting American domination and refusing to submit to US power. "Therefore, as you said, the nuclear issue is nothing more than a pretext," he said. "Bear in mind that we entered into three rounds of negotiations with the American side, and all three previous rounds ultimately led to war against us." The foreign minister was referring to two rounds of what the report described as unprovoked aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, respectively last June and from February 28 until April 7 this year, both of which took place amid negotiations between Tehran and Washington. He also pointed to June negotiations that led to a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding between the two sides, which he said Washington subsequently violated. "Therefore, there is no trust in the American approach," Araghchi said.

According to the top diplomat, Iran has forwarded a Seven-Day Plan aimed at a conditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which the Islamic Republic closed in retaliation for the latest round of what it called unprovoked American-Israeli aggression and continuing American violations. He outlined Iran's proposed sequence for ending the current impasse: the United States first fulfilling its commitments under the Islamabad memorandum, followed by an understanding on the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway's reopening under agreed arrangements, and further negotiations toward a final agreement.

Araghchi said the plan was proposed to prevent diplomacy from collapsing altogether, stating that diplomatic efforts would yield results "provided the other side honors the understandings reached." He said progress depends on Washington honoring its previous commitments and reaching an understanding over the Strait of Hormuz. According to Mehr News, the interview was conducted by the Iraqi media network and covered Iran's position on negotiations, the strait, and relations with Washington.