Terming Iran’s experience of negotiating with the United States as “bitter,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of renewed diplomatic negotiations with Washington, accusing the US of repeated betrayals and military aggression.
In an interview with PBS, Araghchi said Iran no longer considers dialogue with the US a viable option. “I don’t think the question of talking with Americans or negotiating with them will be on the table anymore,” he said. “We have a very bitter experience of talking with the Americans.”
Reflecting on earlier diplomatic engagements, Araghchi claimed that Tehran had negotiated in good faith but was met with renewed hostility. According to him, Iran had entered talks last June but faced military action during the negotiation process.
“We negotiated with them last year, and they attacked us in the middle of negotiations,” he said. “Again this year they tried to convince us that things would be different, promising they had no intention to attack and wanted a peaceful solution to Iran’s nuclear issue.”
He added that despite progress during the three rounds of talks, the situation escalated instead of improving. “The American team itself acknowledged that we had made significant progress,” Araghchi said. “But they still chose to attack us. So negotiations with the US are no longer on our agenda.”
Issuing a message to Persian Gulf countries following Tehran’s attacks on US bases in the region, Araghchi told PBS Iran was exercising its right to self-defence. “If they have the right to take all necessary measures to protect their facilities, I think we are even.”
He said Iran was responding to what it viewed as an initial attack on its territory during negotiations. “We have even more right to take all necessary measures to defend ourselves and protect our people. And this is exactly what we are doing.”
“This war has been imposed on us,” he told PBS. “What we are doing is defending ourselves against an illegal act of aggression. Self-defense is legal and legitimate.”
Araghchi dismissed concerns that the conflict could damage Iran’s relations with regional countries, arguing that protecting the Iranian population takes priority.
“If others claim the right to take necessary measures to protect their facilities, then we certainly have the right to protect our people,” he said, adding that Iran is prepared to continue missile strikes “as long as needed.”
“This is not our war. This is not our choice. This war was imposed on us. We are under aggression and we are defending ourselves.”
“They cannot accuse us for things that happen on the other side,” he added.
“The neighbouring countries should accuse those who started this war, and they should be held responsible for any damage inside Iran and in the region, because everything started with the United States and Israel,” the Iranian Foreign Minister said.
As the conflict in the Middle East enters its tenth day, Araghchi argued that the United States and Israel failed to achieve their strategic goals.
“They believed they could achieve regime change or a quick and clean victory within two or three days,” he said. “But they failed.”
Amid rising global oil prices and disruptions to energy supplies, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi rejected claims that Iran was deliberately restricting oil flows.
“This is not our plan and not our fault,” he said, blaming the instability on military actions by Israel and the United States. According to him, attacks in the region have made shipping companies and oil tankers hesitant to pass through the strategic waterway.
“We have not closed the strait, nor have we prevented navigation there,” Araghchi added. “But the aggression by Israelis and Americans has made the region insecure and unstable.”
