Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Session on “The Post-War Foreign Policy Roadmap” at Bu-Ali Sina University:

“The Twelve-Day War taught us great lessons… We are stronger than we were on June 12.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that our country is now stronger than it was on June 12, the date marking the beginning of the twelve-day imposed war, said: “This war taught us great lessons, among which was that we came to believe more firmly in our own domestic capabilities, and it was this very faith that led to our victory. We now continue on our path, stronger than before.”

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Thursday, in the session entitled “The Post-War Foreign Policy Roadmap,” held at Bu-Ali Sina University through the efforts of the Student Basij in cooperation with the Islamic Association and the Islamic Society, honored the memory of the martyrs of the twelve-day war, including the nuclear scientists who were assassinated and martyred by the criminal Zionist regime, and added: “Our nuclear scientists were cruelly assassinated in their own homes, beside their families, and we cherish the memory of them all.”

He continued: “The twelve-day war taught us great lessons. We came to believe more deeply in our own capabilities and to know both our strengths and weaknesses, as well as those of the enemy. We now continue our path with greater strength.”

Araghchi stated that the twelve-day war was a battle of technologies: “This war was unique, for we fought without having any common border, and this was made possible only through technology — their fighter aircraft on one side and our missiles on the other. Our power in the twelve-day war manifested itself in our defense and missile industries, and it was our missiles that gave us mastery over the enemy’s sky and space.”

He added: “Despite the defensive layers that the Zionist enemy possessed with the assistance of the United States and Europe, our missiles — the achievements and products of our own making — penetrated those layers of defense and struck their targets with precision.”

Araghchi declared: “For the first time, our missiles were employed in an actual war, and their strengths and weaknesses were identified. Today, we are in a far better position than we were on June 12.”

He continued: “In this international system, in which the law of the jungle still prevails — as exemplified by the behavior of the Americans — we must make ourselves ever stronger and more powerful in the face of the enemy’s aggression.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “According to the verses of the Qur’an and the saying of Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), knowledge is the summit of power.”

Araghchi added: “Our course is one of steadfastness in realizing national objectives by relying upon our own capabilities, and the more we strengthen ourselves in defensive, economic, scientific, and other fields, the more dignified we stand in the international arena.”

He stated: “If one attains knowledge, one can attain power and overcome the enemy; thus, the secret of power is knowledge — and this is what we demonstrated in the twelve-day war.”

Araghchi added: “The scientific capability of our scholars safeguarded the country, and that capability manifested itself in the nation’s defense industry.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs declared: “Imported defensive and military equipment was not particularly effective in the twelve-day war; it was our domestically produced weaponry that proved highly effective.”

He recalled: “In the first four days of the war, following the enemy’s attacks on defense centers and the assassinations of scientists and commanders, the enemy thought the Islamic Republic would raise its hands in surrender. The President of the United States, two days after the start of the war, tweeted: ‘Empty Iran!’ Then came Trump’s second tweet: ‘Unconditional surrender of Iran.’”

 Araghchi said: “Those who, on the fourth day of the war, were demanding unconditional surrender, on the twelfth day sent the message: ‘Unconditional ceasefire.’ Of course, we were defending valiantly in this war and insisted that the aggression must be stopped.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs added: “What saved Iran? It was our own scientific and defensive capability, the resolve of the sons of this land, national cohesion, the prudence of the Leader in the rapid appointment of replacements for commanders, the determination of the resistance strategy, and the will of the Government and the diplomacy that saved the country.”

In response to a question from one of the students attending the event, who asked what measures were being considered to deter enemy aggression, Araghchi said: “The country must always possess deterrence in the defensive sphere, and we must be in such a condition that no one even contemplates attacking our country. One of the most important forms of deterrence is the military and defensive one.”

He also referred to the role of the people and society in deterrence and said: “The enemy’s greatest surprise was that during the twelve-day war, the people stood in the face of the enemy with unity and strong cohesion.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs continued: “Economic deterrence is one of the most important matters. We must have preparedness in resilience during crises.”

He added: “Diplomatic deterrence is of great importance, and during the twelve-day war, more than one hundred and twenty countries condemned the attacks of the United States and the Zionist regime and supported the Iranian nation — except, of course, the Security Council, whose condition is well known.”

Referring to diplomatic efforts to condemn the attacks on Iran by the Zionist regime and the United States during the twelve-day war, Araghchi said: “One hundred and twenty-one member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement supported the positions of China and Russia regarding Iran.”

He then, in response to students’ questions concerning relations with the East and the West, said: “The concern about being harmed by either East or West is a legitimate concern, and in this regard, our slogan has always been ‘Neither East nor West.’ This does not mean having no relations with East or West, but rather means not relying upon them.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “We do not rely on the East; we rely on our people and on God. Of course, in relations with the East, we pursue our national interests, and regarding the West, although their conduct has proven otherwise, we do not miss opportunities.”

Araghchi added: “Iran, during the presidencies of Mr. Rouhani and later the martyred President Raisi, acted in this direction, because if our interests are secured through negotiation with the West, we would not hesitate for even a moment.”

He continued: “In this context, we have strategic partnerships with some countries, including China and Russia, and we cooperate within that framework.”

Regarding the Zangezur Corridor, the Minister of Foreign Affairs stated: “There are corridors around Iran and within the country that play a serious role in international connectivity and in strengthening Iran’s economy. Iran is located along a favorable route and corridor, and we must take advantage of this capacity.”

He emphasized: “Iran will never accept any change of borders, any alteration of border geopolitics, or the presence of foreign forces along its borders.”

Referring to the agreements and disagreements among the students present at the event regarding negotiations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “Negotiation is one of the fundamental instruments for achieving national interests, preserving national security, and attaining the aspirations of any country.”

Araghchi continued: “There are two paths for achieving one’s objectives and demands vis-à-vis others — one is war, and the other is negotiation. Negotiation is always the less risky and less costly path.”

He added: “Of course, one must not fear war, for if you fear war, it will surely be imposed upon you. The best way to confront war is to be prepared for it. Yet, as far as possible, everyone seeks to pursue negotiation to achieve objectives, unless the cost of negotiation exceeds that of war.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs continued: “The act of negotiation itself is not subject to doubt; what is questioned is the manner and purpose of negotiation. We have tried negotiating with the United States in various contexts, and we have never achieved a positive outcome. As for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as mentioned, the reality is that we negotiated and reached that agreement in good faith. Despite all differences of opinion, it was ultimately ratified by the Supreme National Security Council and the Parliament, and we abided by it — but the United States withdrew and reinstated sanctions.”

He said: “During the government of the martyred President Raisi, negotiations were held for the revival of the JCPOA, and then another negotiation took place for the exchange of American prisoners in return for the release of Iran’s blocked funds in South Korea, but the United States did not fulfill its commitments. In the recent period, we held five rounds of negotiations; the sixth round had been arranged, but the war erupted during the negotiations.”

Araghchi said: “We have never lowered the flag of negotiation and diplomacy. We say that if the United States is ready to enter into an honorable negotiation from a position of equality and for the attainment of mutual interests, we, too, are ready. But we do not discern such experience or spirit in the Americans.”

He, noting that in the matter of the ‘snapback’ mechanism, proposals were also made to prevent its implementation, added: “The American side was excessive in its demands. We told them: Negotiation is different from dictation; we are not ready to listen to orders.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “It was the United States that betrayed the JCPOA and the negotiations. We must not lose sight of the enemy. It seeks to create division and to break our internal cohesion. We must be alert to the plots of enemies who aim to attack our unity. Minor issues must not be turned into great polarizations. We must resolve our matters with composure and preservation of national cohesion.”

Araghchi added: “In the twelve-day war, the battlefield and diplomacy together displayed the best example of unity. We exerted all our efforts to defend the righteousness and legitimacy of our self-defense, and the armed forces were fulfilling their own duties in defending the Islamic homeland. Now, too, this cooperation exists in its best form, and we have no weakness.”

Araghchi further recalled: “Decision-making at the highest and most crucial levels rests with the Supreme National Security Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the executive arm thereof. Of course, this does not exempt the Ministry from its responsibilities in the matters entrusted to it.”

Regarding Iran’s foreign cooperation, he said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran maintains close and strategic cooperation with Russia and China, and the enemies strive to destroy these partnerships. Certain internal behaviors may create dualities, and that is precisely what the enemy seeks.”

In response to students’ questions concerning Iran’s actions following the United States’ breach of the JCPOA and regarding the benefits of that agreement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “When the United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, we suspended part of our JCPOA commitments and returned to previous conditions — indeed, even far beyond them. They, too, after ten years, returned to the resolutions that had preceded the agreement.

Yet it must be asked of those who opposed the JCPOA: if it was bad, the snapback has restored the previous situation — why then do they now complain that we have returned to it? The JCPOA had kept the country away from those resolutions for ten years.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, referring to Iran’s regional standing, added: “The Islamic Republic has attained a new consensus in the global and regional arenas. Iran’s policy is to strengthen and expand cooperation with neighboring countries, and although differences exist, relations are developing.”

Araghchi said: “In the recent regional developments, many countries stood beside Iran, whereas there were those who had sought to portray Iran as a threat to the region. Following the Zionist regime’s attack on Qatar, the countries of the region came to understand that the true threat to the region is that very Zionist regime, and today the tendency to greater cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran as a regional friend and partner has increased.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, in continuation, responding to certain students’ questions concerning withdrawal or continuation in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), stated: “Expressions regarding the NPT and withdrawal therefrom, and disregard for the Leader’s fatwa, are strange demands. Remaining in or withdrawing from this treaty involves various dimensions that can either threaten or strengthen national security. Therefore, the matter has been discussed at the highest levels, and our decision at present is to remain as a committed member of the NPT. In this regard, we shall never disregard the Leader’s fatwa. This issue is not emotional; it requires expert analysis.”