Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that Iran is committed to pursuing diplomacy while remaining prepared to defend itself if challenged, emphasizing that Tehran’s strength lies in its capacity to stand firm against pressure.
“We are individuals of diplomacy, we are also individuals of war; not in the sense that we seek war, but … we are ready to fight so that no one dares to fight us,” he said, as reported by Press TV, Iran’s state-run English-language broadcaster.
Araghchi made these remarks in Tehran at the National Congress on the Islamic Republic’s Foreign Policy, two days after Iran and the United States held [something] in Oman.
[It was noted] that negotiations between Iranian and U.S. officials in Muscat, the capital, were conducted face-to-face, marking the first such meetings since U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites in June.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the talks as “intensive and lengthy” in a post on X, stating that the meetings allowed both sides to present their positions and concerns.
“It was a good start, but its [outcome depends] in our respective capitals and deciding on how to proceed,” the government account said.
It added there was broad agreement on continuing the negotiations, though decisions on timing, format, and the next round will be made following consultations in the two capitals, with Oman continuing to serve as the intermediary.
Araghchi said Sunday that Iran views its nuclear program as a legitimate right and is seeking recognition of that position through negotiations.
“I believe the secret of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s power lies in its ability to stand against bullying, domination, and pressures from others,” he said, according to Press TV.
“They fear our atomic bomb, while we are not pursuing an atomic bomb. Our atomic bomb is the power to say no to the great powers,” the top diplomat added. “The secret of the Islamic Republic’s power is to say no to the powers.”
President [name] has expanded the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and the USS Michael Murphy, a guided-missile destroyer.
Other [vessels], including the USS Bulkeley, USS Roosevelt, USS Delbert D. Black, USS McFaul, USS Mitscher, USS Spruance, and USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., are positioned across key waterways surrounding Iran, from the eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea.